Dictionary · Networking Fundamentals
Bandwidth
Performance · Beginner
The maximum amount of data a link can carry in a given time, usually described in bits per second. It is the capacity, not the speed a particular transfer just achieved.
A one-gigabit link can carry more data per second than a hundred-megabit link. Actual transfers may be slower because of loss, distance, congestion, or a slow application.
Example: A WAN circuit is sold as 200 Mbps. That figure is its capacity, even if today's backup uses only 40 Mbps.
Common misconception
- Capacity is not the same as the throughput you measured, and it is not the same as delay.