Übertragung

Übertragung is a German noun meaning transmission or transfer. It denotes the act of conveying something from one place, person, or state to another, and the term is used across disciplines such as technology, biology, law, and culture. The precise meaning depends on the context, but the core idea is movement or conveyance from source to recipient.

In information technology and telecommunications, Informationsübertragung refers to the process of sending data from a sender to a receiver over a channel. Key concepts include the Übertragungskanal (transmission channel), Datenrate or Übertragungsrate (data rate), bandwidth, latency, and error characteristics. Transmission can be wired (for example, fiber or copper cables) or wireless (radio, microwave). Techniques such as modulation, coding, and multiplexing aim to increase reliability and efficiency.

In biology and medicine, Übertragung describes the spread of signals or pathogens. In epidemiology, the term is closely linked to Übertragungswege or Übertragungsprinzipien, i.e., transmission routes such as direct contact, droplets, airborne spread, vectors, or vehicles. Prevention and control focus on breaking these routes, through vaccination, hygiene measures, isolation, or treatment of carriers.

In law, Übertragung denotes the transfer of ownership or rights, for instance the Übertragung des Eigentums or the Übertragung von Rechten. Such transfers may require formal acts, notarization, and registration, and are contrasted with related concepts like Veräußerung (disposition of property) or Abtretung (assignment of claims).

Beyond formal uses, Übertragung can also refer to the transmission of culture, information, or influence, including the broadcast or live transmission of events in media contexts.