Additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN)

Additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) is a type of random background noise that affects electronic signals, such as radio or internet data. "Additive" means it adds to the original signal, "white" indicates it has equal intensity across all frequencies, and "Gaussian" describes its statistical distribution resembling a bell curve, where most noise levels are moderate, with fewer very high or very low values. AWGN is used as a standard model to analyze and test the performance of communication systems, representing the unpredictable, fiber-optic, or wireless environment that can distort signals during transmission.