loss

Inelectronics and communications technology, loss is the reduction of a signal level on an electrical line, in an optical waveguide or in radio transmission.

Losses can be caused by physical conditions or are due to ohmic, capacitive and inductive impairments. They occur everywhere: in transmission media, electrical and electronic components and circuits, in lighting technology, radio technology and sound transmission. One measure of losses is attenuation, expressed in decibels.

Losses also occur in data transmission when transmitted data is lost on the transmission path and does not reach the receiving station.