Latency
The time it takes for data to travel from its source to its destination, measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower latency means more responsive connections, which is crucial for gaming and real-time applications.
Examples
Online gaming
In a first-person shooter, 50ms latency means a 50-millisecond delay between clicking and your character shooting
Video conferencing
High latency causes awkward pauses and people talking over each other
Typical Values
Common Misconceptions
- •Low latency doesn't guarantee high bandwidth - you can have fast response but slow downloads
- •Latency is not the same as download speed
Optimization Tips
Use wired Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi
Choose servers geographically closer to you
Close bandwidth-heavy applications
Update network drivers and firmware
User Impact
Gaming
High latency causes lag, rubber-banding, and poor hit registration
Video calls
Creates delays making natural conversation difficult
Live streaming
Increases delay between broadcaster and viewers
Troubleshooting
Issue: High latency on Wi-Fi
Solution: Switch to Ethernet or move closer to router
Issue: Consistent high latency
Solution: Contact ISP or check for network congestion
Technical Details
Round Trip Time (RTT) = 2 × Latency