The connection types, as seen in nmcli connection show, are the types of network configurations that Network Manager can manage. They are not the same as the network protocols or layers, such as TCP or IPv6, but rather the logical or physical ways of connecting to a network. According to the Network Manager reference manual1, some of the possible connection types are:
wifi: This connection type is for wireless network interfaces that use the IEEE 802.11 standard. It requires a wifi device and a wifi access point to establish a connection. The connection settings include the SSID, security, password, etc.
bridge: This connection type is for creating a network bridge, which is a device that connects two or more network segments and forwards packets between them. It requires a bridge device and one or more slave devices to be attached to the bridge. The connection settings include the bridge name, MAC address, STP, etc.
vpn: This connection type is for creating a virtual private network, which is a secure tunnel between two or more network endpoints. It requires a VPN plugin and a VPN service provider to establish a connection. The connection settings include the VPN type, service name, user name, password, etc.
The other options are not correct because:
tcp: This is not a connection type, but a network protocol that operates at the transport layer. It provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data between applications. It is not a configuration option for Network Manager.
Ethernet: This is not a connection type, but a network technology that operates at the physical and data link layers. It defines the standards for wiring, signaling, and framing of data packets. It is not a configuration option for Network Manager, but rather a device type that can be used by other connection types, such as bridge or vpn.
ipv6: This is not a connection type, but a network protocol that operates at the network layer. It provides addressing and routing of data packets across networks. It is not a configuration option for Network Manager, but rather an IP configuration option that can be used by other connection types, such as wifi or vpn. References: