Performance

/ˈbʌfərɪŋ/

noun — "temporary storage to smooth data flow."

Buffering is the process of temporarily storing data in memory or on disk to compensate for differences in processing rates between a producer and a consumer. It ensures that data can be consumed at a steady pace even if the producer’s output or the network delivery rate fluctuates. Buffering is a critical mechanism in streaming, multimedia playback, networking, and data processing systems.

/ˈproʊfaɪlɪŋ/

noun … “Measuring code to find performance bottlenecks.”

Profiling is the process of analyzing a program’s execution to collect data about its runtime behavior, resource usage, and performance characteristics. It is used to identify bottlenecks, inefficient algorithms, memory leaks, or excessive I/O operations. Profiling can be applied to CPU-bound, memory-bound, or I/O-bound code and is essential for optimization in software development.

/ˌɒptɪmaɪˈzeɪʃən/

noun … “Making code run faster, smaller, or more efficient.”

Optimization in computing is the process of modifying software or systems to improve performance, resource utilization, or responsiveness while maintaining correctness. It applies to multiple layers of computation, including algorithms, source code, memory management, compilation, and execution. The goal of Optimization is to reduce time complexity, space usage, or energy consumption while preserving the intended behavior of the program.

/ˈleɪ.tən.si/

noun — "the wait time between asking and getting."

Latency is the amount of time it takes for data to travel from a source to a destination across a network. It measures delay rather than capacity, and directly affects how responsive applications feel, especially in real-time systems such as voice, video, and interactive services.

/ˈbænd.wɪdθ/

noun — "the pipeline width that determines how much data can flow."

/kjuːˌoʊˈɛs/

noun — "the traffic cop that keeps networks running smoothly."

QoS, short for Quality of Service, is a network management mechanism that prioritizes certain types of traffic to ensure reliable performance, low latency, and minimal packet loss. It is widely used in IP networks, VoIP, streaming, and enterprise networks to guarantee bandwidth and service levels for critical applications while controlling congestion.

/ˈɡreɪ.di.ənt dɪˈsɛnt/

noun … “finding the lowest point by taking small, informed steps.”

/ˈtaɪm ˌsɪər.iːz/

noun … “data that remembers when it happened.”

Time Series refers to a sequence of observations recorded in chronological order, where the timing of each data point is not incidental but essential to its meaning. Unlike ordinary datasets that can be shuffled without consequence, a time series derives its structure from order, spacing, and temporal dependency. The value at one moment is often influenced by what came before it, and understanding that dependency is the central challenge of time-series analysis.

/ˌmɒn.ti ˈkɑːr.loʊ/

noun … “using randomness as a measuring instrument rather than a nuisance.”

Monte Carlo refers to a broad class of computational methods that use repeated random sampling to estimate numerical results, explore complex systems, or approximate solutions that are analytically intractable. Instead of solving a problem directly with closed-form equations, Monte Carlo methods rely on probability, simulation, and aggregation, allowing insight to emerge from many randomized trials rather than a single deterministic calculation.

/ˌaɪ piː ˈsiː/

noun … “a set of methods enabling processes to communicate and coordinate with each other.”