What are the characteristics of a ring topology?

A ring topology is characterized by a circular network layout where each device is connected to exactly two others, forming a closed loop. Data travels in a unidirectional or bidirectional manner around the ring, passing through each device until it reaches its destination. This setup can lead to predictable data transmission times but may suffer from issues if one connection fails, potentially disrupting the entire network. Additionally, adding or removing devices can be more complex compared to other topologies like star or bus.