What does 'bandwidth' measure in computer networking?

'Bandwidth' specifically refers to the transmission rate of data over a network, indicating the maximum amount of data that can be transferred in a given amount of time, typically measured in bits per second (bps). A higher bandwidth allows for more data to be sent or received quickly, which is crucial for activities such as streaming video, online gaming, and large file transfers. This concept is integral to understanding network performance and capacity, as it directly affects how efficiently devices communicate over the internet or other networks.

The other options focus on different aspects of computer performance. Storage capacity relates to how much data a device can hold, processing speed pertains to how quickly a CPU can execute instructions, and memory utilization involves how efficiently system memory is being used during operations. Each of these is important, but they do not pertain to the concept of bandwidth in networking.