Overview

Bandwidth represents the 'width of the pipe.' It is the capacity of a communication link to transmit the maximum amount of data from one point to another in a given amount of time.

Common Units

  • Kbps: Kilobits per second.
  • Mbps: Megabits per second.
  • Gbps: Gigabits per second.

Bandwidth vs. Speed

While often used interchangeably, bandwidth is the capacity, while speed (throughput) is the actual rate at which data is being transferred at a specific moment.

Related Terms