Google Cloud Digital Leader Practice Exam

What network performance metric measures the amount of data a network can transfer in a specific time period?

1. Latency

2. Bandwidth

3. Domain Name System (DNS)

4. Fiber optics

The correct answer is: Bandwidth

The correct choice is bandwidth, as it specifically refers to the maximum rate of data transfer across a network path in a given time frame, often measured in bits per second (bps). Evaluating bandwidth is crucial for understanding how much data can be successfully transmitted over a connection, which directly impacts the user experience during activities such as video streaming, downloading files, or online gaming. Latency, on the other hand, measures the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction, not the amount of data transferred. While both latency and bandwidth affect network performance, they concentrate on different aspects. The Domain Name System (DNS) relates to translating domain names into IP addresses; it does not measure data transfer capacity. Fiber optics is a technology that allows for high-speed data transmission using light, but it itself is not a metric for measuring network capacity. Thus, bandwidth is the most relevant term for describing the data transfer capability of a network within a specific time period.