cybersecurity Glossary

What is Latency?

Latency is the delays that exist in a network and that occur as a result of data transmission between different devices. Low latency is especially important for applications that require real-time communication, such as video conferencing applications or online games.

In Wi-Fi networks, the latency caused by the transmission of the wireless signal is especially important, affected by interference and distance from the access point, as well as the rest of the intermediate elements, such as repeaters or switches.

The technology used for the connection to the network (cable or WiFi), as well as the connectivity provided by the operator (ADSL, optic fibre,…) directly affect the latency of the connection.