AppleTalk is a complete network architecture, with a layered organization of protocols. Because AppleTalk is modular, it can operate on many different kinds of cabling, such as LocalTalk Personal Network cabling, existing telephone lines or high-bandwidth transmission lines, such as Ethernet. Devices also can be added and removed without having to reconfigure the network.
AppleTalk allows more sophisticated protocols and services to be added to the architecture as new technologies are developed. For example, because AppleTalk is not tied to the serial port in the Macintosh II family of computers, devices connected to the NuBus slots can use AppleTalk.