Nontraffic

Nontraffic is a term used to describe elements or processes that do not constitute traffic within a given domain. It is not a formal discipline, but a descriptive label applied across fields such as urban planning, transportation, and information technology to distinguish non-movement or non-user-data activities from the main flow of traffic.

In urban planning and design, nontraffic refers to spaces and strategies that generate little or no motor vehicle movement. Examples include pedestrianized streets, plazas, and car-free zones. These features aim to reduce vehicle conflicts, lower emissions, and create environments more conducive to walking, cycling, and public life. Nontraffic concepts can also describe infrastructural layouts that calm traffic or decouple certain uses from through-traffic corridors.

In information technology and networking, nontraffic denotes signals, messages, or data exchanges that are not part of user payload traffic. This includes control-plane messages, signaling, keepalive or health-check messages, and management traffic essential for operation and reliability. Distinguishing traffic from nontraffic helps network engineers allocate resources, monitor performance, and plan capacity.

Etymology and usage notes: The term is formed from non- (not) + traffic and is primarily descriptive rather than standardized. Its precise meaning can vary by field and context, so it is advisable to define the scope of nontraffic when used in documentation or discussion.

See also: traffic, traffic engineering, car-free zone, keepalive, signaling.