What is defined as the amount of information transmitted over a period of time in networking?

Bandwidth is defined as the amount of information transmitted over a period of time in networking. It is a key metric that indicates the capacity of a network connection, usually measured in bits per second (bps). High bandwidth allows for greater volumes of data to be passed through the network in a given timeframe, which is essential for tasks that require the transmission of large amounts of data, such as streaming video or transferring files.

Understanding bandwidth is important for designing and optimizing networks, as it affects how quickly data can be sent and received. If bandwidth is insufficient for the amount of data traffic on a network, it can lead to congestion and slower performance.

In this context, terms like latency, throughput, and traffic cover different aspects of network performance. Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination, while throughput measures the actual amount of data successfully transmitted over a connection within a specific time period. Traffic generally refers to the total amount of data that is moving across the network at any given time but does not specify the capacity or the distinction of actual data moving versus potential capacity. Therefore, bandwidth is the specific term that captures the capacity for data transmission over time.