Which term is used to describe a signal's ability to carry multiple frequencies?

The term that describes a signal's ability to carry multiple frequencies is bandwidth. Bandwidth refers to the range of frequencies that a given communication channel can transmit. It is essentially a measure of how much data can be transmitted over a specific medium in a given amount of time. This diversity in frequencies allows for the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals.

For example, in a communication system, a larger bandwidth enables the transmission of more data streams simultaneously, which can enhance the efficiency and speed of data communication. This characteristic is critical in various technologies, such as wired, wireless, and optical communications, where maximizing data transmission is essential.

Other terms like frequency refer to the number of cycles of a signal per second and are not directly related to the capacity of the signal to carry multiple frequencies. Latency refers to the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction and is more about timing rather than the capacity of a signal. Throughput is the actual rate at which data is successfully transmitted over a network, which can be influenced by bandwidth but does not define the ability to carry multiple frequencies like bandwidth does.