Definition
Throughput refers to the rate at which a system or process can successfully complete work or handle transactions within a given time period. It quantifies the actual output or capacity of a system, measuring the volume of data processed, requests served, or tasks accomplished. In practice, throughput is influenced by factors like processing power, network bandwidth, and system efficiency. Understanding throughput is crucial for optimizing performance, identifying bottlenecks, and ensuring that systems can meet demand. For instance, a web server's throughput might be measured in requests per second it can handle without significant delays. This differs from latency, which measures the time it takes for a single transaction to complete. Throughput is a key metric examined in domains related to system performance and capacity planning, appearing on exams like CompTIA Network+ and CISSP.