What does the term throughput refer to in networking?

Throughput in networking is best defined as the actual amount of data that is successfully transmitted over a network connection in a given amount of time. This measurement is crucial because it reflects the real-world performance of a network, taking into account various factors such as network congestion, overhead, and the efficiency of the data transfer protocols being used.

When we talk about throughput, we are looking at the end-user experience of network performance. Even if a connection has a high theoretical capacity, actual throughput may vary based on network conditions, the type of data being transmitted, and the efficiency of the protocols in place. This concept emphasizes that throughput is not just about the maximum capacity that could theoretically be supported; it is about what is practically achieved during data transmission.

In contrasting scenarios, the theoretical capacity of a connection describes the maximum potential speed without accounting for real-world factors. Time delay relates to latency, indicating how long it takes for data to travel from one point to another instead of the volume of data transmitted. The number of packets sent per second, while a measure of network activity, does not accurately describe the actual data transfer efficiency, as it does not consider the size of those packets or the successes and failures in transmission.

Overall, throughput serves as a critical metric for