What was a Token Ring network?

A Token Ring network was a type of local area network (LAN) technology developed in the 1980s. It was created by IBM and was the first network to use a token-passing protocol. The network used a ring topology, where devices were connected in a single, unbroken circle. Each device on the network had a unique address and a priority level, with the priority level determining the order in which devices could transmit data. The token, a special frame that indicated which device had control of the network, was passed from device to device in a clockwise direction. When a device wanted to transmit data, it would send a request to the network, and if the token was available, it would be granted control and transmit the data. Token Ring networks were widely used in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in the financial and healthcare industries. However, they were eventually replaced by Ethernet networks, which offered faster speeds and lower costs.