signal-to-noise ratio

n. [from analog electronics] Used by hackers in a generalization of its
technical meaning. Signal refers to useful information conveyed by some
communications medium, and noise to anything else on that medium. Hence a
low ratio implies that it is not worth paying attention to the medium in
question. Figures for such metaphorical ratios are never given. The term is
most often applied to Usenet newsgroups during flame war s. Compare
bandwidth. See also coefficient of X , lost in the noise.