What is the difference between latency, bandwidth and throughput?

performance bandwidth latency throughput
kgs picture kgs · Apr 30, 2016 · Viewed 27.6k times · Source

I am struggling to draw a clear line between latency, bandwidth and throughput.

Can someone explain me in simple terms and with easy examples?

Answer

Premraj picture Premraj · Aug 28, 2016

Water Analogy:

enter image description here

  • Latency is the amount of time it takes to travel through the tube.
  • Bandwidth is how wide the tube is.
  • The rate of water flow is the Throughput

Vehicle Analogy:

  • Vehicle travel time from source to destination is latency.
  • Types of Roadways are bandwidth.
  • Number of Vehicles traveling is throughput.

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