Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network connection within a given period, usually measured in megabits per second or gigabits per second. It represents the capacity of the connection rather than the actual speed. A higher bandwidth allows more data to flow simultaneously, enabling faster downloads, streaming, and application performance.
Bandwidth is often confused with speed, but it specifically refers to how much data can move at once, not how fast it travels. This makes it a critical factor in web hosting, cloud applications, and content delivery.
Advanced
Bandwidth is influenced by factors such as network protocols, latency, packet loss, and congestion. Internet Service Providers allocate bandwidth based on subscription tiers, while enterprise networks may manage it using Quality of Service policies to prioritise mission-critical traffic.
In distributed systems, bandwidth often acts as a limiting factor for data replication, video streaming, and real-time applications. Monitoring tools track usage to optimise allocation and reduce the risk of bottlenecks.
Relevance
Applications
Metrics
Issues
Example
A media company upgrades its hosting plan to support higher bandwidth after experiencing buffering during live event streams. With greater capacity, the platform handles peak traffic smoothly, increasing audience satisfaction.