|How does network loop occur & how to prevent it?

A network loop occurs when a network has more than one active path carrying information from the same source to the same destination. The information loops and amplifies itself using the additional path instead of stopping when it reaches its destination. Network loops might cause a slow, irregular Internet connection or network failure.

When a network loop overwhelms broadcast traffic and degrades network performance, it is called a “broadcast storm”. Some switches use Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) to identify and remove network loops and prevent broadcast storms.