What does MIPS stand for in computing?

MIPS stands for "Millions of Instructions Per Second." It is a performance metric used to quantify the number of instructions a computer can process within one second. This measurement is particularly significant in the context of evaluating the speed and efficiency of a processor. By determining how many millions of instructions can be executed in a second, engineers and developers can gauge processing performance and make informed decisions about system capabilities.

The focus on 'instructions' emphasizes the actions performed by the CPU; hence, measuring MIPS gives an insight into how effectively a processor can handle computational tasks. The term helps in comparing different processors by providing a standardized way to discuss their performance. Additionally, while other choices involve inputs or instructions per system, they do not accurately define the commonly accepted meaning of MIPS as it relates specifically to instruction execution speeds.