What is Latency?

Latency is the time it takes a signal to get from your computer to a server on the internet and back.

To put it entirely unnecessarily, if you manage to annoy a llama enough that it spits at you, latency is the time it takes the spit to hit you and the splash back to return to the llama. (Yeah, we agree, that was gross. Don't annoy llamas!)

The lower the latency, the more responsive your network connection feels. High latency will give you one of those awkward moments where you keep talking over the other people on your video call. Slow internet makes everyone look bad.

Why does latency matter?

Most people just think of measuring the "speed" of their internet connection, meaning how many Mbps, but a high-def video chat will usually work just fine at 5 Mbps (High speed internet is always many times that).

With high speed internet connections, it's often high latency you're noticing when you think you're having slow internet issues.

When you have high latency, it can impact all kinds of online activities:

1. Online Gaming

If you're playing a first-person shooter and suddenly the game "catches up," you find yourself dead on the ground, and you didn't even realize someone was shooting. This is caused by lag, which is just a fancy term for high latency. (Why do we need two names? Who knows. It's like why do we need two ways to spell grey/gray? Ask the Brits.)

2. Video Conferencing

The human ear is amazingly well tuned. A delay of even 100 milliseconds can cause a lot of confusion with people talking over each other. High latency is the culprit.

3. Web Browsing

Ever clicked on a button or link and nothing happens? Then you rage clicked a few (hundred) more times... Yeah, you know what we're talking about. High latency strikes again!

How do you reduce latency?

The first thing you need to do is measure latency with a service like, I don't know, Latency Llama! We continuously monitor your latency (and packet loss) so that you both know there is a problem with your network or internet, and have some additional information about where the problem might be.

Sometimes the solution is as simple as restarting your computer, router, or modem. Other times, you need to make the dreaded call to customer service. Regardless, we'll arm you with the data to prove there is an internet issue.

For more troubleshooting steps, check out 13 ways to fix your internet issues.