Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is a high-speed network technology that enables the transfer of data between computer systems. ATM uses a special type of encoding called cell relay, which allows for the transmission of data in small, fixed-size packets called cells. This makes the ATM particularly well suited for use in high-speed networks such as those used by cable television companies and telephone companies.

ATM has several advantages over other types of networking technologies. First, it is much faster than older technologies such as X.25 and frame relay. Second, it is more efficient than these older technologies because it uses less bandwidth and can multiplex many different types of traffic onto a single link. Finally, ATM is easier to manage than other types of networks because its cell structure makes it easy to identify and isolate problems.