Latency is the response time of an internet connection. It’s also sometimes referred to as 'lag'. Every online action – from browsing a website to playing Call of Duty – involves sending requests to a server asking to access that data.
If all goes smoothly in that request, you’ll receive a response from the server and that server will send you the data requested. The time it takes is measured in milliseconds.
Latency can cause small delays. It could be a pause while a webpage loads, a second delay between pressing X in a game and your character responding, or buffering when you're watching a film or streaming music.
Latency is not the same as internet speed — though speed could have an effect.
Low latency = 👍
A lower time means minimum delay. The closer to zero milliseconds, the lower the latency and the better the performance.
A good low latency is generally considered to be around 30-50 milliseconds (ms), with anything below 100ms being acceptable for most online activities, especially gaming, where lower latency means faster response times and smoother gameplay. for highly sensitive applications like real-time trading or virtual reality, even lower latency might be required (under 20ms).
**High latency =**👎
A higher time means there is a delay in network communication. High latency can have a negative impact, especially for any real-time activities like gaming or video calls.
Anything above 150 ms can cause noticeably laggy internet experiences and be very annoying to deal with.
Find out your broadband’s latency score is by running a simple ping test. Ping – a term used especially by gamers – is another word for latency.
To run a ping test on a Windows computer, you can use the Command Prompt to send data to an IP address (we’ve chosen to use google below) and measure how long it takes to return:
Or, if this all sounds a bit much – we promise it is easy – there are plenty of websites and apps that will also reveal your latency speed, such as BandwidthPlace and Pingmon.
High latency can be caused by a number of factors, including:
Geographical distance
The physical distance between the user and the server that responds to their request. The farther the data has to travel, the longer it takes. So, for example, if you’re in the UK and having a video call to a company in Australia, this can lead to a delayed experience.
Slow broadband speeds
Slow internet speed makes everything else slow too, including latency. Your speed could be slow because your bandwidth is being spread across too many connected devices in your home, or because the package itself isn’t enough for the demands of your online activities.
Network congestion
When too many users are trying to access data at the same time, it can slow down data transmission. This can happen during peak usage times, when large files are being transferred, or when there are sudden spikes in traffic.
Server issues
If a server is overwhelmed with requests or doesn't have enough resources, it can't process and send data quickly. Outdated hardware or software can also cause server performance issues.
Multiple networks
Data often has to pass through multiple networks on its way to the server. When multiple networks share the same channels, it can cause congestion and slow speeds. This is a common issue in public Wi-Fi settings
Router performance
Older routers can cause connection issues with speed, strength, and reliability. This is because routers can start to fail like other electronic devices, and technology advances can make them outdated.
Downloading multiple files
Although it might seem time-efficient to download multiple files at once, the reality is that it's not. You'll only end up increasing network latency with multiple running downloads, potentially extending how long downloading takes.
Running multiple applications
Having too many applications open at once can contribute to network traffic and affect latency. As they compete for system resources, this can lead to delays in processing data, ultimately resulting in higher latency, especially when performing network-intensive tasks like online gaming or video calls.
If high latency is proving frustrating, here are some quick wins to try.
Use a wired connection
Plug your device directly into the router with an ethernet cable. This results in more consistent and stable data as you remove the need for Wi-Fi connection where data needs to be converted over radio signals and makes activities like online gaming much smoother.
Close unnecessary applications
When multiple applications are running at the same time, your computer's RAM (random access memory) is divided between them, which can cause programs to run slower. Even having Chrome open in the background can have an impact. To see what programs are running on your computer, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete. You can then close down any non-essential programs before you start using your computer
Move closer to your router
Moving nearer to your router helps reduce latency because a stronger signal with less distance to travel results in faster data transmission and lower ping times. The further you are from your router, the weaker the Wi-Fi signal becomes, which can lead to increased latency due to data packets taking longer to reach their destination.
Restart your device
Restarting your device can sometimes help with latency, especially if you're experiencing lag or performance issues due to background processes or temporary glitches. A fresh start can clear out memory usage and optimise your device's performance, leading to lower latency in activities like gaming or streaming.
Update your router
Updating your router's firmware can potentially help reduce latency by fixing bugs, optimising network performance, and sometimes even adding features that can better manage network traffic, especially if your current firmware is outdated and has known issues causing lag.
Play during off-peak hours
Gamers often bear the biggest brunt of high latency. Consider gaming during off-peak hours when internet traffic is generally lower. This can help minimise network congestion and reduce latency during your gaming sessions.
