# throughput

/ˈθɹuˌpʊt/ (US) · /θɹˈuːpʊt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/throughput
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the amount of work, data, or people that a system can handle in a specific amount of time. It measures how much goes through a process from start to finish.

For teachers: the rate at which a system processes a given amount of input or produces a specific volume of output over a defined period.

## Examples

- The new software significantly increases the data throughput of our network.
- The factory manager implemented a new assembly line layout to improve the daily throughput of finished goods.
- Optimising network throughput requires a careful balance between increasing bandwidth and reducing latency to ensure that packets move efficiently through every node in the infrastructure.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in technical, industrial, and computing contexts to describe efficiency.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.