chokepoint

A chokepoint is any place, route, or mechanism where traffic, goods, or information is constrained so that a small disruption can block or slow a larger flow. It is a concept used across geography, military strategy, logistics, and information systems to describe points of vulnerability or strategic leverage.

In geography and military strategy, chokepoints are narrow passages or bottlenecks that constrain movement and concentrate risk. Defenders may use them to deny passage, while attackers may seek to seize or bypass them to control routes and supplies.

In logistics and economics, chokepoints are critical nodes whose disruption can ripple through supply chains, affecting availability and prices. They highlight vulnerabilities where a single point of failure can have broad consequences for trade and production.

In digital networks, chokepoints are nodes or links that carry large shares of traffic, such as major internet exchange points, submarine cable landings, or large data centers. Congestion or outages at these points can slow or interrupt service over wide regions.

Prominent maritime chokepoints include the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez and Panama Canals, and the Straits of Malacca and Bab el-Mandeb, which channel substantial shares of global energy and trade. Chokepoints also arise in urban traffic and aviation, where critical intersections or corridors can become bottlenecks. Mitigation typically involves redundancy, alternative routes, capacity expansion, and strategic planning to reduce single-point vulnerability.