Editing Telecommunications link (section)

==Types==

===Point-to-point===<!-- This section is linked from [[Packet]] -->
A [[point-to-point link]] is a dedicated link that connects exactly two communication facilities (e.g., two [[Node (networking)|nodes]] of a network, an intercom station at an entryway with a single internal intercom station, a radio path between two points, etc.).

===Broadcast===
Broadcast links connect two or more nodes and support ''broadcast transmission'', where one node can transmit so that all other nodes can receive the same transmission. [[Classic Ethernet]] is an example.

===Multipoint===
Also known as a ''multidrop'' link, a multipoint link is a link that connects ''two or more'' nodes.  Also known as general topology networks, these include [[Asynchronous Transfer Mode|ATM]] and [[Frame Relay]] links, as well as [[X.25]] networks when used as links for a [[network-layer protocol]] like [[Internet Protocol|IP]].

Unlike broadcast links, there is no mechanism to efficiently send a single message to all other nodes without copying and retransmitting the message.

===Point-to-multipoint===
A [[point-to-multipoint link]] (or simply a ''multipoint'') is a specific type of multipoint link which consists of a central connection endpoint (CE) that is connected to multiple peripheral CEs. All of the peripheral CEs receive any transmission of data that originates from the central CE while any transmission of data that originates from any of the peripheral CEs is only received by the central CE.

=== Private and public ===
Links are often referred to by terms that refer to the ownership or accessibility of the link.
* A ''private link'' is a link that is either owned by a specific entity or a link that is only accessible by a particular entity.
* A ''public link'' is a link that uses the public switched telephone network or other public utility or entity to provide the link and which may also be accessible by anyone.
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