A topology is the shape of a network: how devices are connected physically and how traffic logically flows between them. An architecture is a proven design built from those shapes, such as the three-tier campus or the spine and leaf data centre. Network+ asks you to recognise each one, know its strengths and weaknesses, and pick the right one for a scenario. The trade-offs you weigh are almost always the same: cost, redundancy, scalability, latency and how easy the design is to manage.
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