Online Computer Terms Dictionary - B

best effort

<networking> A classification of low priority network traffic, used especially the Internet.

Different kinds of traffic have different priorities. Videoconferencing and other types of real-time communication, for example, require a certain minimum guaranteed bandwidth and latency and so must be given a high priority. Electronic mail, on the other hand, can tolerate an arbitrarily long delay and is classified as a "best-effort" service.

[Scientific American, Nov. 1994, pp. 83-84].

(1995-04-04)