What is throughput in networking?

Throughput in networking refers to the rate at which data is successfully transmitted over a network within a given period of time. This metric is crucial for assessing the performance of a network, as it indicates how efficiently data is moving from one point to another, often measured in bits per second (bps). High throughput implies that a network can handle large amounts of data traffic effectively, contributing to faster data transfer and better performance for applications.

In contrast, the number of devices connected to a network primarily speaks to the network's capacity and congestion potential, but it does not inherently reflect the actual data transmission capabilities. The distance over which data can travel is more related to signal degradation and latency, rather than the actual data transfer rate. The capacity of a network to handle multiple requests does touch on performance, but it doesn't define throughput as explicitly as the rate of successful data transmission does. Thus, the explanation of throughput clearly aligns with the definition that emphasizes the successful transfer of data in a specific timeframe, making it the correct choice.