What's the difference between throughput & bandwidth

Bandwidth is the greatest quantity of data that can be carried through a communication channel in a given time, typically measured in bits per second (bps). It indicates the capacity of a communication channel, which is typically governed by physical properties of the channel (e.g., the available frequency spectrum) and the technology used to send data. Consider as a motorway lane. The width of a road represents the bandwidth.

Throughput, on the other hand, refers to the actual amount of data that is transmitted over a communication channel in a given amount of time, usually measured in bits per second (bps) or packets per second (pps). It indicates the amount of data that is effectively transmitted from the source to the destination and is determined by a number of variables, including the quality of the communication channel, the volume of network traffic, and the effectiveness of the data transmission protocol.

In summary, bandwidth refers to the maximum capacity of a communication channel, whereas throughput refers to the actual amount of data carried successfully across that channel.