capacity

capacity

1. a measure of the electrical output of a piece of apparatus such as a motor, generator, or accumulator

2. Electronics a former name for capacitance

3. Computing

a. the number of words or characters that can be stored in a particular storage device

b. the range of numbers that can be processed in a register

4. the bit rate that a communication channel or other system can carry

5. legal competence

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

capacity

[kə′pas·əd·ē]

(analytical chemistry)

In chromatography, a measurement used in ion-exchange systems to express the adsorption ability of the ion-exchange materials.

(computer science)

storage capacity

(electricity)

capacitance

(science and technology)

Volume, especially in reference to merchandise or containers thereof.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

capacity

1. See carrying capacity.

2. The volume contained in a vessel.

3. The maximum or minimum water flow obtainable under given conditions (e.g., specified conditions of pressure, temperature, and velocity).

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

capacity

As it pertains to airports, it is the ability of an airport to handle a given volume of traffic. It is a limit that cannot be exceeded without incurring an operational penalty.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

capacity

(communications)

The maximum possible data transfer rate of a communications channel under ideal conditions. The total capacity of a channel may be shared between several independent data streams using some kind of multiplexing, in which case, each stream's data rate may be limited to a fixed fraction of the total capacity.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

capacity

With regard to computer and information systems, capacity refers to the storage and transaction processing capability of computer systems, the network and/or the datacenter. See capacity-on-demand and storage capacity.

Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.