bandwidth
band·width- the range of frequencies within a band (noun), as that required to transmit a particular signal
- Comput. the rate at which information can be transmitted along a communications line, to a device, etc.
bandwidth
noun
- The numerical difference between the upper and lower frequencies of a band of electromagnetic radiation, especially an assigned range of radio frequencies.
- The amount of data that can be passed along a communications channel in a given period of time.
bandwidth
(plural bandwidths)
- The width, usually measured in hertz, of a frequency band.
- Of a signal, the width of the smallest frequency band within which the signal can fit
- (networking) The rate of data flow in digital networks typically measured in bits per second
- (informal) The capacity, energy or time required
- I think it's a worthy project, but I just don't have the bandwidth right now.
bandwidth - Computer Definition
The measure of the capacity of a circuit or channel. More specifically, bandwidth refers (1) to the total frequency range on the available carrier in Hertz (Hz) for the transmission of data, or (2) the capacity of a circuit in bits per second (bps). There is a direct relationship between the bandwidth of an analog circuit or channel and both its frequency and the difference between the minimum and maximum frequencies supported. Although the information signal (bandwidth usable for data transmission) does not occupy the total capacity of a circuit, it generally and ideally occupies most of it.The balance of the capacity of the circuit may be used for various signaling and control (overhead) purposes. In other words, the total signaling rate of the circuit typically is greater than the effective transmission rate. In an analog transmission system, bandwidth is measured in Hertz (Hz). In a digital system, bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps). See also bps, carrier, Hz, overhead, signaling and control, signaling rate, throughput, and transmission rate.
(1) Computer people may use the term for capability and time. For example, "not enough bandwidth to get the job done" means not enough staff or time to do it. Its true meaning follows.
(2) The transmission capacity of an electronic pathway such as a communications line, computer bus or computer channel. Digital bandwidth is the number of pulses per second measured in bits per second (bps). For example, Ethernet transmits at different speeds, including 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps (see Mbps and baseband). When transmitting alternating frequencies, as with all wired analog, many wired digital and most wireless communications, the bandwidth is the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies, measured in cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz). For example, 802.11n Wi-Fi transmits in 20 MHz and 40 MHz channels within the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The 20 and 40 MHz channel frequencies are the bandwidths, and each channel is divided into subchannels. From Hertz to Bits - A Complicated Process When using alternating frequencies for digital transmission, the frequencies are modified (modulated) by the digital input. Using the 802.11n Wi-Fi example, the resulting bit rate can range from 6.5 Mbps to 600 Mbps. This extremely wide range is determined by the signal strength and interference in the environment at any given moment. Any one of more than 30 combinations of channel bandwidth (20, 40 MHz), modulation scheme, error correction rate, channel spacing and number of antennas may be selected, on a packet-by-packet basis. See modulation, video bandwidth, space/time and bandwidth junkie.
bandwidth - Investment & Finance Definition
The amount of digital data that can be transmitted over a computer network, or another communications device, during a given time. Digital devices measure bandwidth in bits per second (bps) or kilobits per second (kbps). The term also may be used informally to refer to an ability to complete a project or task.
