What does Kbps stand for in data transfer rates?

Kbps stands for Kilobits per second, a unit of measurement used to express data transfer rates in digital communications. It specifies how many thousands of bits (where one byte equals eight bits) can be transmitted in one second. This measurement is commonly used to gauge the speed of internet connections, as well as data transfer rates for various network protocols.

Understanding that "Kilobits" refers specifically to bits is crucial, as it distinguishes this measurement from others related to data such as Kilobytes per second, which would involve bytes instead of bits. Additionally, kilohertz and kilowatts are entirely different measurement units related to frequency and power, respectively, and are not applicable in the context of data transfer rates.