A ring network is a topology of computer networks where each user is connected to two other users, so as to create a ring. The most popular example is a token ring network.

Ring networks tend to be inefficient when compared to client/server networks because data must travel through more points before reaching its destination. For example, if a given ring network has eight computers on it, to get from computer one to computer four, data must travel from computer one, through computers two and three, and to its destination at computer four. It could also go from computer one through eight, seven, six, and five until reaching four, but this method is slower because it travels through more computers.

Comparing ring networks to other types of network

Advantages

• Growth of the system has minimal impact on performance
• All stations have equal access
• Each node on the ring acts as a repeater, allowing ring networks to span greater distances than other physical topologies..

Disadvantages

• Often the most expensive topology
• Failure of one computer may impact others

Examples

• FDDI Fiber Distributed Data Interface
• Token Ring
• IEEE 802.5 The IEEE standard covering Token Ring Networks
• SONET Synchronous Optical NETwork