A logical qubit encoded in a topological error correcting code (a code in which logical operations are related to topological invariants of the underlying lattice or geometry of the code). Topological invariants are, by definition, insensitive to deformations, making topological qubits insensitive to errors. Topological qubits can either be realized by cooling an appropriately designed material or device into a topologically ordered phase of matter (as for Majorana qubits pursued by Microsoft), or by preparing many qubits in a topological error correcting code using gates and measurements (as in the surface code).