What does 'MTU' stand for in networking?

'MTU' stands for Maximum Transmission Unit in networking. It refers to the largest size of a packet or frame that can be sent over a specific network interface without the need for fragmentation. Understanding MTU is crucial for optimizing network efficiency and performance.

When packets exceed the MTU size, they may be broken down into smaller pieces, called fragments, which can lead to increased overhead and reduced network efficiency. Different technologies have different MTU values; for instance, Ethernet typically has an MTU of 1500 bytes.

Adjusting MTU settings can help manage network traffic and ensure that the data packets are transmitted efficiently and without errors. Choosing the right MTU value for your network can significantly impact speed and reliability.

In contrast, options like Minimum Transmission Unit, Mass Transmission Unit, and Managed Transmission Unit do not accurately represent the concept in networking, as they either misdefine or do not exist in the context of standard networking terminology.