What is latency in computers? A beginner’s guide

• Latency is the time it takes for data to travel between a source and a destination, measured in milliseconds
• Reducing latency is critical for smoother gaming, faster cloud computing, and seamless video streaming experiences

When using a computer, streaming a video, or playing an online game, you may have experienced a delay in response. This delay is called latency. Latency is a critical aspect of computer systems and networks that affects performance, speed, and user experience. Let’s dive into the basics of latency and understand why it matters.

Also read: What is the future of IT infrastructure?

Also read: 6 key factors that make a system highly available

What is latency?

Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from its source to its destination and back. Think of it as the “lag” between sending a request and receiving a response. It is measured in milliseconds (ms), and in computer networks, lower latency means faster communication and better performance.

For example, when you click on a link in your browser, the latency is the time it takes for your request to reach the server and for the server to send the webpage back to you. If this process takes too long, you’ll notice a delay, which can be frustrating.

Types of latency

There are several types of latency depending on the context:

1. Network Latency: Refers to the delay in data transmission between devices over a network. This is common in internet connections.
2. Disk Latency: The time it takes to retrieve data from a hard drive or SSD. Faster drives like SSDs have lower latency than traditional HDDs.
3. Processing Latency: Occurs when a computer takes time to process data or instructions. This is often influenced by CPU speed and system architecture.

What causes latency?

Latency can be caused by various factors:

1. Distance: The farther data has to travel, the longer the latency. This is why satellite internet often has higher latency compared to fiber optics.
2. Hardware: Slow or outdated hardware, like routers or hard drives, can introduce delays.
3. Congestion: High network traffic can create bottlenecks, increasing latency.
4. Software Optimization: Poorly optimized software or applications can add processing delays.

Why is latency important?

Latency plays a vital role in many areas of computing:

1. Online Gaming: High latency, or “lag,” can ruin multiplayer gaming experiences, making it hard to compete.
2. Video Streaming: Latency affects buffering. A lower latency connection ensures smoother playback.
3. Cloud Computing: Businesses rely on low latency for real-time data processing and fast response times in applications.
4. Virtual Reality and AI: Technologies like VR and AI demand ultra-low latency for seamless performance.

How to reduce latency

Here are some practical tips to minimize latency:

• Upgrade Hardware: Invest in modern routers, SSDs, and fast processors.
• Optimize Your Network: Use wired connections instead of Wi-Fi when possible, and reduce network congestion.
• Choose Better ISPs: Internet Service Providers with fiber-optic connections generally offer lower latency.
• Use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): Websites and businesses can leverage CDNs to reduce latency by storing data closer to users.