Feedback in a system can best be defined as?

Feedback in a system refers to the process by which the output of a system influences its own input, thereby affecting future outputs. This self-regulatory mechanism is crucial for maintaining balance and improving system performance. In this context, when the outputs are analyzed and the inputs are adjusted accordingly based on this analysis, it constitutes feedback. This could involve amplifying certain processes or mitigating others, depending on the desired outcome.

The other options present concepts that do not align with the definition of feedback. The complete elimination of outputs does not contribute to the functional adjustment of inputs or outputs, while stagnation implies a lack of change rather than a responsive cycle of feedback. Additionally, the idea that only external information is integrated fails to capture the internal, dynamic nature of feedback, which is based on the relationship between a system's outputs and its subsequent inputs. Thus, the definition that emphasizes the alteration of inputs based on output results accurately encapsulates the essence of feedback.