D6 · Network+

What is bandwidth vs throughput vs latency?

Bandwidth = maximum theoretical capacity. Throughput = actual data rate achieved. Latency = one-way delay. Jitter = variation in latency (critical for VoIP/video).
1Gbps bandwidth ≠ 1Gbps throughput. Overhead, errors, and congestion reduce throughput. Latency affects real-time applications more than throughput. Jitter buffers smooth VoIP quality. QoS prioritizes latency-sensitive traffic.
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