What technology helps prevent collisions in a network?

The correct choice is CSMA/CA, which stands for Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance. This technology is designed to manage how devices on a wireless network communicate with one another, helping to prevent collisions that can occur when multiple devices attempt to send data simultaneously.

CSMA/CA works by having devices listen to the network before transmitting data. If the medium is free, a device can proceed to send its data. However, if another device is already transmitting, the device using CSMA/CA will wait until the medium is clear before it tries to send its data. Additionally, this method employs techniques such as sending a Request to Send (RTS) message and waiting for a Clear to Send (CTS) response, further ensuring that devices don't transmit data at the same time.

In contrast, CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) is primarily used in wired Ethernet networks and detects collisions after they occur, which is less efficient in managing traffic compared to the preventative nature of CSMA/CA. Token Ring is a network technology that uses a token-passing mechanism to control access to the network, effectively eliminating collisions, but it operates through different principles than CSMA/CA. Star topology refers to a network layout, and