throughput
THROO-poot
/ˈθruːpʊt/
The amount of material or items passing through a system or process in a given period.
Unlike simple 'output', throughput specifically measures the rate of flow through a defined system, often highlighting the efficiency of the entire pipeline.
The story behind the word. A literal compound word from the mid-20th century, 'throughput' combined the idea of moving 'through' a system and being 'put' out at the other end. It gained prominence with the rise of industrial engineering and computer science to describe processing speeds.
Word relationships
- output: Output is the final result; throughput is the rate of flow through the process.
- productivity: Productivity is a ratio of output to input; throughput is a raw rate of flow.
- stagnation: Stagnation is the lack of movement, whereas throughput is the measure of movement.
Commonly confused with
- capacity: Capacity is the maximum possible flow; throughput is the actual flow occurring.
Word family
- throughput (noun): The rate of processing.
Collocations
- maximize throughput
- data throughput
- system throughput
- throughput rate
Example sentences
- "Throughput is the rate at which the system generates money through sales." In manufacturing theory, throughput is the primary measure of success. (Eliyahu M. Goldratt, The Goal)
- "The new fiber optic cables significantly increased the data throughput of the server farm." Discussing network performance in a data center.
Memory hook
Think of water flowing 'through' a pipe that you 'put' in place; the speed of the water is the throughput. Flow rate through the gate.
When not to use
Do not use for creative output or emotional expression; it is strictly for quantifiable processes.
Fun facts
- In the 19th century, 'throughput' was sometimes used in agriculture to describe the amount of grain passing through a mill.
Related words
Explore more words
output, productivity, capacity, efficiency, bandwidth, production
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