Section: IT & Technology · NetworkingDifficulty: Easy
Latency
USUK
The time delay between a data request being sent and the response being received, measured in milliseconds.
Also: ping · round-trip time
Definition
Latency is the time it takes for a data packet to travel from its source to its destination, measured in milliseconds (ms). Low latency is critical for real-time applications such as online gaming, video conferencing, and financial trading. Latency is influenced by factors including physical distance, network congestion, routing inefficiencies, and processing delays. Round-trip time (RTT) measures the total time for a packet to travel to a destination and back.
Example
“A latency of 5ms in an online game feels instantaneous, while 200ms latency causes noticeable lag and delayed reactions.”
Synonyms
- delay
- lag
- response time
- round-trip time
- ping
Antonyms / Opposites
- throughput
- high bandwidth
Images
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Related Terms
- bandwidth
- ping
- round-trip-time
- network-congestion