Mesh network
A network topology in which devices relay traffic for one another, so coverage grows with every added node and no single link has to reach the gateway.
In a mesh, each node can forward packets on behalf of its neighbors, and the network finds a path hop by hop to a coordinator or border router. Adding a device in a far corner does not require a stronger radio; it only needs one neighbor in range. If a relay fails, routes are recomputed around it, which gives the topology its reputation for self-healing.
Zigbee, Thread, Bluetooth Mesh and Wi-SUN all use mesh, usually with mains-powered nodes acting as routers and battery devices as sleepy leaves. The costs are complexity and latency: every hop adds delay and a chance of loss, routing tables take memory, and a mesh with too few routers behaves worse than a simple star topology. Smart lighting is a natural fit because every bulb is a powered relay.
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