What is 'load balancing' in networking?

Load balancing in networking refers to the practice of distributing network traffic across multiple servers or resources. This approach is crucial for optimizing resource use, maximizing throughput, minimizing response time, and avoiding overload on any single server. By balancing the load across various servers, organizations can ensure that no single server becomes a bottleneck, which may lead to slower performance or service outages.

This process is typically managed by specialized devices known as load balancers, which can intelligently route incoming requests to the most appropriate server based on factors like current load, health of the servers, and specific rules or algorithms. Load balancing is essential for maintaining high availability and reliability of applications, especially in environments with varying or unpredictable traffic patterns.

The other options do not capture the essence of load balancing. Limiting data transmission helps in managing bandwidth but does not address distributing workloads across servers. Collecting data from individual users pertains to data management and analytics rather than traffic distribution. Increasing signal strength is related to improving the quality of the connection rather than balancing traffic loads among resources. Overall, option B accurately defines load balancing in the context of networking.