What is Latency: A Deep Dive into Network Delays

Understanding Latency: Network Delays

When you’re testing your internet speed, you’re likely making sure you’re getting the download speed you are paying to get from your hosting company (or internet provider). Or maybe you’re seeing if there’s an issue with the connection. Either way, it’s important to pay attention to your connection’s latency. (Or lag. Or delay. Or ping.)

What is latency? Why is latency significant, especially in the context of internet providers? And most importantly, can I improve latency? We’ll look at all of these questions and more in this helpful guide to understanding internet latency. 

 

Well, that all depends on what you do on the internet. Some activities work better and cause less frustration with lower latency (faster), while it makes no difference to some others.

Generally speaking, anything under 100 ms is an acceptable ping rate that won’t cause a perceptible delay in response. Web pages load almost immediately or your video stream starts within a couple seconds. Anything over that and you may start noticing a delay, or lag. 

A good rule of thumb? If you notice your frustration level increasing while working online, chances are you latency is high. Or there’s something wrong with your internet connection.

That 100ms threshold is fine for every day use of the internet. However, there are times when a faster response time is beneficial.

What Causes Latency?

Latency isn't caused by a single factor but rather a combination of elements, including:

• Distance: The physical distance data travels directly impacts latency. Signals have a finite speed, and longer distances naturally lead to longer delays.
• Network Congestion: When a network is overcrowded with data, packets may need to queue, leading to increased latency. Think of it like a traffic jam on the information superhighway.
• Routing and Propagation: Data packets often traverse multiple routers and network segments to reach their destination. Each hop introduces a small delay, contributing to overall latency.
• Processing Delays: Devices like routers and servers require time to process incoming data packets, adding to the overall delay.

The Importance of Low Latency

In many applications, low latency is paramount for a seamless user experience. Consider these examples:

• Online Gaming: High latency can make games unplayable, causing lag and delayed responses to in-game actions.
• Video Conferencing: Lag in video calls can disrupt communication flow and hinder productivity.
• Financial Trading: Milliseconds matter in financial markets. High latency can result in missed trading opportunities and financial losses.

Measuring and Managing Latency

Latency is typically measured in milliseconds (ms). Tools like ping and traceroute can help diagnose and pinpoint sources of latency in a network.

Strategies for Reducing Latency:

• Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): CDNs cache content closer to end-users, reducing the distance data needs to travel.
• Optimized Routing: Efficient routing algorithms can minimize the number of hops and optimize data paths.
• Traffic Shaping: Prioritizing time-sensitive traffic can ensure smoother transmission for critical applications.