What is Latency?

Latency refers to the delay or lag between sending a request and receiving a response, often measured in milliseconds (ms). It is a critical factor in determining the performance of networks, applications, and devices, as higher latency leads to slower response times and degraded user experience.

How Does Latency Work?

Latency occurs due to various factors, such as the distance data travels between the client and server, the processing time of network devices, and the load on the network. Key factors influencing latency include:

• Propagation Delay: Time taken for data to travel between the sender and receiver.
• Transmission Delay: Time required to push the data onto the network.
• Queuing Delay: Delay caused by data waiting in buffers or queues due to congestion.
• Processing Delay: Time spent by routers, switches, and servers to process data.

Why Latency Matters?

High latency can cause delays in real-time applications, such as video streaming, online gaming, and VoIP calls. Reducing latency is essential for improving user experience and optimizing performance in time-sensitive applications.

Key Factors Affecting Latency

• Network Distance: Longer distances between source and destination increase latency.
• Network Congestion: Traffic overload on networks can increase delays.
• Hardware Performance: Slower processing speeds in devices or servers can contribute to higher latency.
• Protocol Overhead: The protocols used to send data can introduce additional delays due to header processing and error checking.

Summary

Latency is the delay in data transmission that impacts the speed of response in networks and applications. Lower latency leads to better performance and faster interactions, crucial for real-time communication and data-driven applications.