Congestion is a state of excessive accumulation or overfilling or overcrowding. This general definition is broadly correct across all uses of the word. However in specific contexts the word has a more precise definition and usage.

In telecommunication, the term has the following meanings:

1. In a communications switch, a state or condition that occurs when more subscribers attempt simultaneously to access the switch than it is able to handle, even if unsaturated.
2. In a saturated communications system, the condition that occurs when an additional demand for service occurs.

Sources: Federal Standard 1037C and MIL-STD-188 Look up Access in Wiktionary, the free dictionary This is a list of articles related to the notion of access: information transfer, computer storage, telecommunication and computer networks: ACCESS.bus access charge access method access time broadband Internet access broadband wireless access code division multiple access Common User Access dial... In telecommunication, a communications system is a collection of individual communications networks, transmission systems, relay stations, tributary stations, and data terminal equipment (DTE) usually capable of interconnection and interoperation to form an integrated whole. ... Federal Standard 1037C entitled Telecommunications: Glossary of Telecommunication Terms is a U.S. Federal Standard, issued by the General Services Administration pursuant to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended. ... MIL-STD-188 is a series of U.S. military standards relating to telecommunications. ...

In medicine and pathology the term is used to describe excessive accumulation of blood or other fluid in a particular part of the body, such as nasal congestion. Medicine on the Web NLM (National Library of Medicine, contains resources for patients and healthcare professionals) Virtual Hospital (digital health sciences library by the University of Iowa) Online Medical Information- medical news, links and resources. ... Pathology (in ancient Greek pathos = feeling, pain, suffering and logos = discourse or treatise, i. ... Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are present in the blood and help carry oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). ... A subset of the phases of matter, fluids include liquids, gases, plasmas and, to some extent, plastic solids. ... Human anatomy or anthropotomy is a special field within anatomy. ... Nasal congestion is usually caused by a virus and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. ...

See the traffic congestion article for a discussion of congestion in transportation. Traffic jams are common in heavily populated areas. ...

In electric power transmission it means the inability to supply an area with the cheapest available generation due to a binding constraint on the point to point transmission route. Some plant or equipment could be causing the constraint due to thermal overload or security limits being potentially breached. Transmission lines in Lund, Sweden Electric power transmission is one process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ... Itaipu Dam is a hydroelectric generating station Electricity generation is the first process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ...

See also

• Congestion control
• Queue