Definition
Throughput is the amount of completed output produced by a process or system within a defined period.
Human Explanation
Throughput measures how much useful work leaves the system, not how much work is started.
Why it Matters
Throughput reflects the real productive capability of a system and supports planning, scheduling and performance evaluation.
Conceptual Boundary
Throughput differs from capacity and productivity. High capacity does not guarantee high throughput if constraints or interruptions prevent output.
Practical Perspective
Increasing work in progress does not necessarily increase throughput.