Throughput is a measurement used in networking to quantify the rate at which data is transmitted or processed over a communication channel, network, or system. It is typically expressed in bits per second (bps) or data packets per second (pps). Throughput is a crucial performance metric in analyzing the efficiency and capacity of a network or system to handle data transfer, and it is often used in optimizing network design, improving latency, and enhancing overall performance. High throughput typically indicates a fast and efficient network or system, while low throughput can indicate congestion, bottlenecks, or other issues that may impact performance.