Network delay

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File:Graphical Description of Network Delay.png
Graphical depiction of contributions to network delay

Network delay is a design and performance characteristic of a telecommunications network. It specifies the latency for a bit of data to travel across the network from one communication endpoint to another.[1]Template:Ref RFC It is typically measured in multiples or fractions of a second. Delay may differ slightly, depending on the location of the specific pair of communicating endpoints. Engineers usually report both the maximum and average delay, and they divide the delay into several parts:

A certain minimum level of delay is experienced by signals due to the time it takes to transmit a packet serially through a link. This delay is extended by more variable levels of delay due to network congestion. IP network delays can range from a few milliseconds to several hundred milliseconds.

For example, the hop count between two communication endpoints (such as server and client), may affect network delay.[2]

See also

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."What is latency?". IONOS Digitalguide. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Network Hops". Retrieved 2025-10-18.

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