How is "signal degradation" defined?

The definition of "signal degradation" pertains to the phenomenon where the quality of a signal diminishes as it travels through a medium, such as a cable or air. This can occur due to various factors, including distance from the source of the signal and interference from other signals or environmental obstacles.

As signals travel further, they naturally lose strength and clarity, which can result in poorer performance in communication systems. This understanding is crucial for fields like telecommunications, where maintaining signal integrity is essential for effective data transmission. Recognizing that the impact of distance and interferences leads to reduced signal strength is fundamental to troubleshooting and optimizing network performance.

In contrast, the other definitions do not accurately capture the concept of signal degradation. For instance, losing connections or experiencing complete loss of signal might lead to interrupted communication but does not primarily describe the ongoing reduction in quality that occurs over distance. Improvement in signal quality would indicate that the signal is getting stronger or clearer, which is the opposite of what signal degradation entails.