Traffic (also known as web/internet traffic or website traffic) refers to the entirety of all data transmitted over a network such as the internet. This includes, on one hand, the transmission of user data (such as website visits, downloads, and uploads). On the other hand, it also refers to the transmission of system data (such as routing information and log data).
Distinction between incoming and outgoing traffic:
Inbound/Incoming
Inbound traffic refers to the data flow from external sources into a specific network. This can include, for example, user requests sent from external websites, servers, or other networks to a website or server.
Outbound/Outgoing
Outbound traffic refers to the data flow sent from a specific network to external destinations outside of this network. Typical examples are responses to user requests: A web server sends these back to the user’s browser. Data uploads from a local computer to a cloud service or another server are also considered outgoing data traffic.
This distinction between inbound and outbound data traffic is crucial for network administrators. It helps them monitor the use of bandwidth, identify bottlenecks, and optimize network performance.
