What is meant by "sampling rate" in digital audio?

Sampling rate refers to the frequency at which audio samples are taken per second when converting an analog signal into a digital format. Essentially, it defines how many discrete samples of the audio signal are recorded each second. A higher sampling rate enables a more accurate representation of the original sound wave, allowing for the capture of a wider range of frequencies and greater detail in the audio quality.

For example, a standard sampling rate for CD audio is 44.1 kHz, meaning 44,100 samples are taken each second. This results in better sound fidelity compared to lower sampling rates. In contrast, the other options address different aspects of audio technology but do not accurately define sampling rate. Thus, the selection that identifies the sampling rate specifically as the number of samples recorded every second captures the essence of what sampling rate embodies in digital audio.