packet loss
Packet loss is the failure of data packets to reach their destination, causing reduced network reliability and degraded application performance, especially for real-time services.
Packet loss occurs due to congestion, hardware failures, transmission errors, or software issues. Even minimal packet loss can disrupt voice, video, and gaming applications, leading to gaps, retransmissions, or poor quality.
Mitigation involves QoS prioritization, error correction protocols, traffic engineering, and network redundancy. Monitoring packet loss rates helps identify bottlenecks and optimize performance.
Alternatives to reduce packet loss include upgrading infrastructure, increasing bandwidth, or deploying more resilient protocols.