Bandwidth refers to the transmission capacity of a network. Available bandwidth depends on several variables, such as the rate of data transmission between networked devices, network overhead, number of users, and the type of device connecting PCs to a network. Bandwidth is analogous to the diameter of a pipeline: the wider the pipe, the more water can flow through it per second. Similarly, the wider a network's bandwidth, the more data can pass over it per second.

An integral part of the PC, the BIOS is the program used to get the computer started after you turn it on. It also manages the data flow between the computer's operating system and attached peripheral devices.

Broadband is the term applied to high-speed data transmission, such as cable, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line). Broadband technologies provide faster connections to the Internet than traditional dial-up services.