Latency
Latency is the delay between an action or request and the corresponding response or data transfer.
- Format
- Performance & CDN
- Updated
- Updated
Latency Aliases: network delay, response delay.
Definition
Latency is the delay between an action or request and the corresponding response or data transfer.
How it works
Distance, routing, connection setup, and server processing each add their share of delay — and it compounds. A page that needs dozens of round trips feels slow even on a fast connection, which is why a big pipe with high latency can feel worse than a modest one nearby. Cutting round trips often beats buying bandwidth.
Example: A visitor far from the origin server waits longer for each round trip than a visitor nearby.
Often confused: Latency is the wait; bandwidth is the width of the pipe.
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-07-19.