Jitter
performanceintermediate
latency variationpacket timingvoipstreaming
The variation in latency or delay of received packets in a network transmission.
Examples
Video call
High jitter causes audio to cut in and out or video to freeze intermittently
Online gaming
Jitter causes inconsistent gameplay with rubber-banding effects
Typical Values
Excellent<5ms
Good5-10ms
Acceptable10-20ms
Poor>20ms
Common Misconceptions
- •Low average ping doesn't guarantee low jitter - consistency matters
- •Jitter is different from packet loss, though both affect quality
Optimization Tips
Use QoS to prioritize real-time traffic
Avoid Wi-Fi for critical real-time applications
Close bandwidth-heavy applications
User Impact
VoIP calls
Audio quality degradation and choppy speech
Live streaming
Stream stuttering and quality drops
Online gaming
Inconsistent responsiveness and lag spikes
Troubleshooting
Issue: High jitter on Wi-Fi
Solution: Switch to Ethernet or improve Wi-Fi signal
Issue: Jitter during peak hours
Solution: ISP network congestion - consider upgrading plan
Technical Details
Specification: Measured as standard deviation of ping times
Formula:
Jitter = |Current Packet Delay - Previous Packet Delay|