What is the term used to refer to how an entire PLC system is put together?

• A. Architecture
• B. Design
• C. Layout
• D. Configuration

Answer: (A)

Architecture describes how an entire PLC system is put together. It covers the high-level organization of all components—CPU, I/O, power supplies, networks, and software—and how they interact, including how signals flow, how the system is structured (centralized vs distributed), and how redundancy or safety features are integrated. This is the big-picture blueprint that sets the framework for the rest of the work. Design is about planning and solving requirements, layout refers to the physical placement of components, and configuration means setting the specific options and parameters within the chosen structure. So the best fit for describing the complete assembly of a PLC system is architecture.