the signal-to-noise ratio

The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measures how clearly a desired signal can be distinguished from background noise. Imagine trying to hear a friend's voice at a busy party; if their voice is loud and clear, the SNR is high. If it's faint and drowned out by chatter, the SNR is low. A higher SNR indicates a clearer, more reliable signal, while a lower SNR suggests more interference or noise. It’s a key measurement in electronics, telecommunications, and audio to assess the quality of data transmission or recording.