在如以太网路及封包无线电之类的电信网络之中，吞吐量或网络吞吐量是指于一通信信道上单位时间能成功传递的平均数据量，数据可以于实体或逻辑链结上传递，或通过某个网络节点。吞吐量的单位通常表示为比特每秒（bit/s或bps），有时也可看到封包每秒或封包每时槽等单位。

系统吞吐量或汇集吞吐量是指于一网络内单位时间所有终端传递的数据量的总和。

吞吐量可以用等候理论作数学上的分析。其中，单位时间的封包负戴标示为到达率λ，而单位时间的封包吞吐量则标示为离开率μ。

吞吐量实质上同义于数字带宽消耗量。

In general terms, throughput is the rate of production or the rate at which something can be processed.

When used in the context of communication networks, such as Ethernet or packet radio, throughput or network throughput is the rate of successful message delivery over a communication channel. The data these messages belong to may be delivered over a physical or logical link, or it can pass through a certain network node. Throughput is usually measured in bits per second (bit/s or bps), and sometimes in data packets per second (p/s or pps) or data packets per time slot.