network-centric

Network-centric describes systems, strategies, or operations organized around interconnected networks rather than individual units or hierarchical structures.

The term emerged from military doctrine in the 1990s, where network-centric warfare emphasized information sharing across platforms: network-centric operations enable real-time coordination between air and ground forces.

The concept has spread to business and technology contexts, describing architectures where the network itself—not any single node—provides the core capability.