congestion collapse

Congestion collapse occurs when a system becomes so overwhelmed by demand that it fails to function effectively. In networks, for example, if too many users try to send data at once, the traffic can slow to a crawl, causing delays and dropouts. Instead of improving, adding more data traffic worsens the situation, leading to a state where the system can no longer transmit information efficiently. Essentially, congestion collapse highlights a point where increased usage results in reduced overall performance, undermining the very purpose of the system.