In networking, what does throughput measure?

Throughput measures the amount of data successfully transmitted over a network within a given time frame. It is a critical factor in evaluating a network's performance, as it indicates how efficiently the network can deliver data from one point to another. The focus is on the actual data being transmitted, rather than just the potential or maximum data rate, which can be affected by various factors such as network congestion, protocol overhead, and error rates. This distinction helps in assessing the real-world experience of users and applications relying on the network.

Throughput is typically expressed in bits per second (bps), megabits per second (Mbps), or gigabits per second (Gbps), and is essential for understanding the network's capability to support application requirements and user demands.