highspeed

Highspeed, or high-speed, is a term used to describe technologies, systems, or processes that operate at speeds significantly greater than the norm within a given domain. Its exact meaning is context dependent and commonly appears in discussions of transportation, computing, imaging, and consumer electronics.

In transportation, high-speed rail denotes rail services designed for sustained speeds well above conventional rail, typically exceeding 200 km/h on upgraded lines, with some services reaching 300 km/h or more. High-speed air travel is not universally defined, but the phrase is often used to describe aircraft and routes that deliver rapid travel times compared with standard options.

In information technology and communications, high-speed refers to fast data transfer and processing. This includes fiber-optic networks, broadband connections, and wireless systems capable of multi-gigabit rates. High-speed interfaces and storage technologies also appear under this label, distinguishing newer standards from older, slower ones.

In imaging and photography, high-speed describes equipment that can capture rapid motion, using high shutter speeds or high frame rates to freeze movement or record fast events.

In consumer electronics and other equipment, the term is frequently used as a marketing or specification label indicating superior performance relative to prior generations, such as high-speed USB interfaces or memory media. Because definitions vary by field and region, precise thresholds for what counts as "high-speed" are not universal.