What does throughput measure in networking?

Throughput measures the actual amount of data that is successfully transmitted over a network in a given amount of time. It focuses on the effective data transfer rate and takes into account various factors that might reduce the amount of data that can be sent, such as network congestion, protocol overhead, and transmission medium quality. This measurement is crucial for understanding network performance, as it reflects the real-world capability of data movement rather than theoretical maximums.

For instance, while a network might have a specified maximum speed, throughput typically is lower due to real-world variables. Other options address different aspects of networking: maximum potential speed relates to theoretical performance, time taken for a single packet focuses on latency, and the number of connected devices refers to network capacity. Hence, throughput is specifically concerned with the amount of data that is actually transmitted successfully, making it a key performance indicator in networking.