Technology Glossary: What does Latency mean

In recent years, technology has become not only a basic tool, but also a part of our daily lives, to the point that it's almost impossible to imagine what it would be like to carry out activities without it.

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic, starting in 2020, prompted people around the world to become more involved with the Internet of Things, in turn bringing them closer to those they had previously been physically distant from. Suddenly, even the most reluctant users embraced technology and had to learn how to use it to take advantage of it.

However, the pandemic didn't end things. It has become abundantly clear that technology will not only remain in our lives, but will continue to play a significant role in the way we carry out all our activities. Therefore, it is necessary for our understanding and knowledge to continue expanding to avoid being left behind.

What does Latency mean

Latency is the time that elapses between when information is requested and when it begins to be transferred.

There is often a lot of confusion between latency, speed, and bandwidth. It's true that these are closely related terms, but they have different meanings.

To understand the concept of latency, we must first understand how the internet connection works.

How does latency work?

Imagine you want to access a website. You enter a search query on Google and click on a search result.

At that moment, the information transmission process begins. A website is hosted on a server, so when you click, you are telling your computer: "I want to access this information." Your computer, thanks to its internet connection, will follow these steps:

1. It will send a request for information to the server. 2. The server will send a response to the request. 3. Once the server confirms that you can access the information, the download will begin. 4. When the download is complete, you will be able to view the information.

In steps 1 and 2, latency is what's involved. That is, the time that elapses between sending the request and receiving access is called latency. Steps 3 and 4 depend on the connection speed, or what we commonly call download speed.

In turn, the speed will depend on your connection's bandwidth.

Interpreting Latency

Now that we know what latency is, it's helpful to know how to interpret it.

To easily understand the difference, we'll assume your download speed is very fast and explain two situations:

High latency: If you have very high latency, it could happen that the wait time between the information request and the response is very long. However, once you receive the response, given your internet speed is very fast, it will take very little time. Low latency: On the other hand, if your latency is very low, the server's response time will be very fast. Furthermore, since you have a fast connection, the information will download very quickly as well.

In any case, it's important to know that latency and speed are often related. That is, it's rare to find situations in which these two variables behave very differently.

Why Learn Technology Terms

Incorporating technology into daily life offers multiple benefits and simplifies numerous everyday tasks. From personal and work organization through smart apps and devices, to physical and mental well-being through specialized gadgets and software, technology has become a vital ally.

It also facilitates instant communication and connection with people from all over the world, breaking down geographical barriers. Furthermore, smart security systems provide a higher level of comfort and protection in the home. Adopting these technological tools can mean a push toward optimizing time and improving quality of life, while opening the way to discovering new opportunities and learning.