latency
Latency is the time it takes for data to travel across a network, directly affecting application responsiveness and user experience, especially for real-time services.
Latency measures the delay between sending and receiving data over a network, typically in milliseconds. Influenced by distance, congestion, and device processing, latency impacts applications like VoIP, gaming, and financial transactions.
Types of latency include propagation, transmission, processing, and queuing delays. High latency can disrupt VoIP, video conferencing, and gaming, resulting in choppy audio, video artifacts, and synchronization issues.
Mitigation strategies include network optimization, use of CDNs, QoS policies, edge computing, and protocol tuning. Monitoring and reducing latency are crucial for delivering reliable, high-quality digital experiences.
Alternatives to reducing latency include deploying resources closer to users or using faster network technologies.