Network traffic refers to the flow of data across a network as clients and servers send and receive information. Traffic includes HTTP requests, file transfers, streaming data, and synchronization messages. Traffic volume and patterns affect network performance, latency, and infrastructure requirements.
Why it matters
Monitoring and optimizing network traffic helps prevent bottlenecks, reduce latency, and scale applications effectively. Traffic analysis is critical for performance tuning, capacity planning, and security monitoring.
Examples
High request volume to an API during peak hours or sustained WebSocket traffic for a real-time dashboard. Lessons like Traffic and Bandwidth cover core concepts.