Quality of Service
Quality of Service (QoS) is a networking concept that refers to the ability to prioritize and manage network traffic to ensure reliable performance for critical applications. It involves techniques to control bandwidth, latency, jitter, and packet loss, often used in environments where network resources are limited or shared. QoS is essential for maintaining service levels for real-time applications like VoIP, video conferencing, and online gaming.
Developers should learn QoS when building applications that require consistent network performance, such as real-time communication systems, streaming services, or IoT devices with bandwidth constraints. It is crucial in cloud environments, enterprise networks, and telecommunications to prevent congestion and ensure that high-priority traffic (e.g., emergency calls) is delivered without interruption. Understanding QoS helps optimize resource allocation and improve user experience in distributed systems.