What does the term "throughput" measure in networking?

Throughput refers specifically to the actual rate of successful data transfer over a network. It is a key performance metric that indicates how much data is successfully processed and delivered over a network in a given timeframe, typically measured in bits per second (bps).

This measure takes into account various factors that can affect data transmission, such as network congestion, protocol overhead, and errors. Therefore, throughput provides a realistic view of a network's performance in terms of the tangible data that is successfully received and acknowledged by the destination.

While the other options discuss related concepts, they do not capture the essence of throughput as defined by the successful transfer of data. The theoretical maximum speed describes the upper limits of a network's capabilities, not what is actually achieved, and latency pertains to the delay in transmission rather than the volume of data transferred. The amount of data that can be sent in a given time may imply maximum capacity but does not confirm successful transfer, distinguishing these terms from the specific definition of throughput.