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Term: BANDWIDTH

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Bandwidth refers to the amount of data a cable (network) can carry; measured in bits per second (bps), for digital signals, or in hertz (Hz), for analog signals, such as sound waves. For digital signals, a higher bit rate represents a larger bandwidth. A higher bandwidth (that is, a higher signal frequency) will mean a faster transmission, which means a shorter signal. With a short signal, there is a smaller margin for error in interpreting the signal. A signal traveling along a cable degrades with distance. It is possible to connect the cable to special components that can clean up and rejuvenate a signal. Defines the amount of information that can travel between two points in a specific time. A term used to describe, usually in terms of number of bits per second, the volume capacity of any point within a system or network.

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