A network topology discovery method, comprising: collecting (101, 201) network characteristic data of all network elements in a to-be-analyzed network; obtaining (102, 202) at least two corresponding link subsets respectively by using at least two types of topology discovery algorithms and according to the network characteristic data, and gathering all links in the at least two link subsets into one set to obtain a first link set, wherein a confidence value of a link in each link subset is equal to a confidence value of a topology discovery algorithm corresponding to the link subset, confidence values of different topology discovery algorithms are different, and the link is used to connect two ports of different network elements; obtaining a second link set by performing an operation on the first link set, wherein the operation comprises: combining same links in the first link set, and calculating, according to multiple confidence values of the same links and an uncertainty reasoning algorithm, a confidence value of the retained link after combining, wherein the same links are at least two links in which two ports in one link are the same as those in any other link; and for at least two links having only one same port, retaining a link having a largest confidence value in the at least two links and deleting a remaining link; and obtaining (104, 206) a network topology of the to-be-analyzed network according to each link in the second link set. collecting (101, 201) network characteristic data of all network elements in a to-be-analyzed network; obtaining (102, 202) at least two corresponding link subsets respectively by using at least two types of topology discovery algorithms and according to the network characteristic data, and gathering all links in the at least two link subsets into one set to obtain a first link set, wherein a confidence value of a link in each link subset is equal to a confidence value of a topology discovery algorithm corresponding to the link subset, confidence values of different topology discovery algorithms are different, and the link is used to connect two ports of different network elements; obtaining a second link set by performing an operation on the first link set, wherein the operation comprises: combining same links in the first link set, and calculating, according to multiple confidence values of the same links and an uncertainty reasoning algorithm, a confidence value of the retained link after combining, wherein the same links are at least two links in which two ports in one link are the same as those in any other link; and for at least two links having only one same port, retaining a link having a largest confidence value in the at least two links and deleting a remaining link; and combining same links in the first link set, and calculating, according to multiple confidence values of the same links and an uncertainty reasoning algorithm, a confidence value of the retained link after combining, wherein the same links are at least two links in which two ports in one link are the same as those in any other link; and for at least two links having only one same port, retaining a link having a largest confidence value in the at least two links and deleting a remaining link; and obtaining (104, 206) a network topology of the to-be-analyzed network according to each link in the second link set.