In OSPF, which data store is used to represent network topology for routing decisions?

• A. Routing Table
• B. Link-State Database
• C. Neighbor List
• D. Forwarding Database

Answer: (B)

In a link-state routing protocol like OSPF, routers build a shared view of the network by flooding link-state advertisements into a data store called the Link-State Database. This database represents the network topology—the complete map of how all routers and links are interconnected. The SPF (shortest path first) algorithm uses this topology map to compute the best paths and next-hops, with the results entering the Routing Table. The Forwarding Database (or FIB) then uses the routing table to actually forward packets, while the Neighbor List simply tracks adjacent peers. So the data store that represents the network topology for routing decisions is the Link-State Database.