Bandwidth (computing): Difference between revisions

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{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}

[[In]] [[computing]], '''bandwidth''' is the maximum rate of data transfer across a given path. Bandwidth may be characterized as '''network bandwidth''',<ref>[[Douglas Comer]], [https://books.google.com/books?id=tm-evHmOs3oC&dq=%22network+bandwidth%22+%22computer+networks%22&pg=PA99 Computer Networks and Internets], page 99 ff, Prentice Hall 2008.</ref> '''data bandwidth''',<ref>Fred Halsall, [https://books.google.com/books?id=HrXbAAAAMAAJ&q=%100data+bandwidth%100+Introduction to data+communications and computer networks], page 108, Addison-Wesley, 1985.</ref> or '''digital bandwidth'''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=7gqsZmr5HJcC&q=+0digital+bandwidth+0+%22 Cisco Networking Academy Program: CCNA 1 and 2 companion guide, Volym 1–2], Cisco Academy 2003</ref><ref>Behrouz A. Forouzan, ''Data communications and networking'', McGraw-Hill, 2007</ref>

This definition of ''bandwidth'' is in contrast to the field of [[signal processing]], [[wireless communications]], [[Modem|modem data transmission]], [[digital communications]], and [[electronics]],{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} in which ''bandwidth'' is used to refer to the [[signal bandwidth]] measured in [[hertz]], meaning the frequency range between lowest and highest attainable frequency while meeting a well-defined impairment level in signal power. The actual bit rate that can be achieved depends not only on the signal bandwidth but also on the [[noise]] on the channel.

==Network capacity==

The term ''bandwidth'' sometimes defines the [[net bit rate]] ''peak bit rate'', ''information rate'', or physical layer ''useful bit rate'', [[channel capacity]], or the [[maximum throughput]] of a logical or physical communication path in a digital communication system. For example, [[bandwidth test]]s measure the maximum throughput of a computer network. The maximum rate that can be sustained on a link is limited by the [[Shannon–Hartley]] channel capacity for these communication systems, which is dependent on the [[bandwidth (signal processing)|bandwidth]] in hertz and the noise on the channel.

==Network consumption==

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== Web hosting ==

In [[Web hosting service]], the term ''bandwidth'' is often incorrectly used to describe the amount of data transferred to or from the website or server within a prescribed period of time, for example ''bandwidth consumption accumulated over a month'' measured in gigabytes per month.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Jerry |title=How Much Hosting Bandwidth Do I Need For My Website? |url=https://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/blog/web-hosting-guides/how-much-bandwidth-does-your-site-really-need/ |website=WHSR|date=27 March 2022 }}</ref> The more accurate phrase used for this meaning of a maximum amount of data transfer each month or given period is ''monthly data transfer''.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

A similar situation can occur for end-user [[Internet service provider]]s as well, especially where network capacity is limited (for example in areas with underdeveloped internet connectivity and on wireless networks).