metric

The term metric comes from the Greek and means measurement. According to general understanding, it is a system of key figures or procedures for measuring quantifiable values.

InIT technology, a metric is considered to be "a standardized measured variable". The term is used primarily in connection withalgorithms. Encryption algorithms, routing algorithms, algorithms of biometric procedures, etc. Furthermore, the metric is used as a tool for evaluating the efficiency of investments or services. All metrics have in common that they have a defining property that distinguishes them.

In the case of path selection in networks, a metric is the algorithm in which it determines the optimal route ofdata packets through the network. The decision criteria include: The line cost, the line capacity and the error rate of the line, and the number of hops.