Bandwidth (computing)
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In computer networking and computer science, digital bandwidth or just bandwidth often refers to a bit rate measured in bits/s, for example, network throughput. The reason for the connection of data rate with the term bandwidth is that according to Hartley's law, the limit to the data rate of a physical communication link is related to its bandwidth in hertz, sometimes denoted analog bandwidth in computer networking literature. For the case of high signal/noise ratio, the digital bandwidth consumption (i.e. the throughput) of a bit stream or logical link in a computer network is proportional to the average spectral bandwidth of the analog signal representing the bit stream during a studied time interval. However, measuring bandwidth in bits/s is disputed due to confusion with the original definition. Less ambiguous terms are for example gross bit rate, net bit rate, throughput, goodput or channel capacity.
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[edit] Bandwidth in web hosting
In website hosting, the term "bandwidth" is often used to describe the amount of data transferred to or from the website or server within a prescribed period of time. Another more specific phrase used for this meaning of bandwidth is monthly data transfer.
Web hosting companies often quote a monthly bandwidth limit for a website, for example 500 gigabytes per month. If the total amount of data downloaded from the website in a particular month reaches this limit, the hosting company may shut off further public access to the site.
When a website grows in popularity or exceeds its bandwidth limits, webmasters may reduce bandwidth usage by employing bandwidth optimization techniques.
[edit] Internet connection speeds
Below is a table showing the maximum bandwidth of different connection types to the internet:
| 56 kbit/s | Modem / Dialup |
| 1.544 Mbit/s | T1 |
| 10 Mbit/s | Ethernet |
| 11 Mbit/s | Wireless 802.11b |
| 54 Mbit/s | Wireless-G 802.11g |
| 100 Mbit/s | Fast Ethernet |
| 300 Mbit/s | Wireless-N 802.11n |
| 1000 Mbit/s | Gigabit Ethernet |
| 10000 Mbit/s | 10 Gigabit Ethernet |
[edit] See also
- Bandwidth (Wiktionary entry)
- Bandwidth cap
- Bandwidth extension
- Bandwidth test
- Bandwidth theft
- Bit rate
- Broadband
- Comparison of latency and throughput
- Goodput
- List of device bandwidths
- Measuring network throughput
- Narrowband
- Signal Processing
- Throughput
