In a computer network, latency is defined as the time of delay for a response within that same network or from a single computer unit. It is compared to a “reaction speed” in living things, such as how long it takes for a person to respond when you call their name. It can be called different names, such as lag or delay time, and those wouldn’t be too far off the mark.
Latency is a function of both hardware and software of computers and their networks. Where bandwidth is used to describe the capacity of a computer to quickly access the Internet, latency is more about what happens within a network. The scope focuses more on the local area, and less about delays when accessing the greater worldwide network.
Several things contribute to latency. Older, less up-to-date computers will feature slower working processes, both on a software computing level and a physical, hardware level. The same goes for network peripherals, such as server devices, routers, and switches that may not be up to the latest standards on the market.
Latency is also a way to describe the delay it takes for an individual computer to get the job done. An old measure of latency was how quickly a computer can boot – the faster it takes for all start-up programs to load, the lower the latency.
It goes without saying that keeping latency low on a network can be critical. For some industries, keeping the latency low makes a big difference. Music recording studios, for example, often need precise, pinpoint timing when they perform elaborate sound editing and post-recording production work. They need to ensure that no gaps, delays or skipped beats take place, because such mistakes can be disastrous to the final product. Film editing is another example, as a glitch in a system can cause lost content, or can end up damaging the work put into the project.
For other situations, latency may not be an obvious problem, but can be over time. A computer routinely stores and caches data as its operators go about their work. In due time, without proper maintenance, a network of computers will slowly be bogged down by the amounts of information it needs to handle and process. Issues can spring up as a result of unnecessary files, or perhaps a failure to defragment the hard drive, and can slowly eat away at the machine’s ability to perform at its peak potential.
IT support firms can help inspect and refine a network, helping keep latency low and efficiency high. For example, they can retool old software, such as outdated operating systems and work utilities used years ago. A sharp IT firm can replace these with newer versions, helping keep systems current and quick. A system cleanup for a company’s computers can also be an invaluable service – removing or replacing executable software that eats up the computing time of a PC will contribute to overall performance.
As latency is sometimes caused by hardware, some solutions can be found for that as well. Replacing old or refurbished network tools can be an answer, as routers, LAN systems and other peripherals can be the factors holding back the fastest potential speeds that may be achieved by a given network.
The result of keeping latency in check can be felt when compared to how it was previously. Much time and money can be spared by taking on top experts to retool and readjust existing hardware, especially when compared with the cost of establishing new networks from the ground up.
