Final answer:
In a star topology, each node connects to a central switching device, allowing direct point-to-point communication through the hub or switch, offering benefits for network scalability and isolation of faults.
Step-by-step explanation:
The network topology in which each node connects to a central switching device is called a star topology. In a star topology, every node (which could be a computer, printer, or any other device) has a dedicated point-to-point connection to a central hub or switch. When a node wants to communicate with another, it sends data to the switch, which then relays the data to the intended recipient. This topology is widely used because of its advantages in terms of ease of troubleshooting, scalability, and the fact that if one link fails, it does not affect the rest of the network.