What type of network connects each component directly to a central computer or network server?

The correct answer is a star network. In a star network topology, all devices are connected to a central hub or switch, which serves as a point of communication for the network. Each peripheral device communicates with the central device, which facilitates data transfer and enables easier management of the network. The central device is responsible for controlling the flow of information, which helps isolate potential issues—if one connection fails, it does not affect the rest of the network.

In contrast, a bus topology connects all devices to a single communication line, meaning that if that line fails, the entire network is disrupted. A mesh topology involves each device connecting to multiple other devices, providing redundancy and improved reliability, but it is more complex and costly to set up. A tree topology, often considered a hybrid of star and bus topologies, is structured with groups of star-configured networks plugged into a linear bus backbone but does not define direct connections to a single central hub like in a true star configuration. Thus, the star topology is clearly characterized by direct connections to a central component, making it the correct answer.