What are the trade-offs between latency and throughput in networking?

What are the trade-offs between latency and throughput in networking?

Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination, while throughput is the amount of data transmitted over a network in a given time. Generally, optimizing for low latency can reduce throughput and vice versa.

Can you give me an example of when I might prioritize one over the other?

Sure! In online gaming, low latency is crucial for a smooth experience, so it’s prioritized over high throughput. Conversely, in video streaming, high throughput is more important to ensure quality video delivery, even if there's a slight delay.

How do these trade-offs affect network design?

Network design must balance these factors based on the intended application. For instance, a real-time communication system would require a design focused on minimizing latency, while a data center might prioritize throughput to handle large volumes of data.

Are there technologies that help manage these trade-offs?

Yes, technologies like Quality of Service (QoS) can help manage these trade-offs by prioritizing certain types of traffic to ensure that latency-sensitive applications perform well.