Latency vs. Lag: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 11, 2023
Latency is the time taken for data to travel between source and destination; lag refers to delays experienced during an activity, often due to high latency.
Difference Between Latency and Lag
Latency is a term that describes the amount of time it takes for a packet of data to move from its source to its destination. On the other hand, lag is the noticeable delay between an action and the expected result. It's often the consequence of high latency, especially in online games or video streaming.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 11, 2023
Latency is often measured in milliseconds and represents the pure delay in data transmission. Lag, while related, encompasses a broader scope. It can be a result of not just high latency, but also packet loss, bandwidth limitations, or server-side issues.
Muazma Batool
Sep 11, 2023
In the world of online gaming, latency is the time taken for a signal to travel from the gamer's computer to the game server and back. Lag is the effect players feel when there's a delay in the game's response, making the game feel slow or unresponsive. This is often due to high latency.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 11, 2023
Latency can be seen in many technologies, including internet connections, audio systems, and even human perception. Lag, on the other hand, is the manifestation of latency, often making activities like gaming, video calls, or live streaming frustrating.
Kaitlyn
Sep 11, 2023
Latency and lag are interrelated, but they are not the same. Understanding latency helps in optimizing networks and systems, while recognizing lag aids in identifying and troubleshooting performance issues in various applications.
Elijah
Sep 11, 2023
Latency vs. Lag Comparison Chart
Definition
Time for data to travel between source & destination
Delay experienced during an activity due to high latency
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Sep 11, 2023
Impact
Determines speed of data travel
Affects user experience, especially in real-time tasks
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Sep 11, 2023
Latency vs. Lag Definitions
◉Latency
The time taken for a device to respond to a request.
The hard drive has a latency of 5 milliseconds.
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Sep 11, 2023
◉Latency
The time interval between the stimulus and response.
The latency period for this system is shorter than we expected.
Elijah
Sep 11, 2023
◉Lag
The time delay in a system's response to changing conditions.
The financial markets might lag behind economic indicators.
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Sep 11, 2023
◉Latency
A short delay in a signal or transmission.
There was a noticeable latency in the video call.
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Sep 11, 2023
◉Lag
To fail to keep up a pace; straggle
a hiker who lagged behind his companions on the trail.
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
The period of inactivity in diseases or conditions.
The virus has a latency period of several weeks.
William
Sep 11, 2023
◉Lag
To proceed or develop with comparative slowness
a nation that lags behind its neighbors in economic development.
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
Delay in data transmission between two points.
Reducing network latency can improve streaming quality.
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Sep 11, 2023
◉Lag
To weaken or slacken; flag
My attention lagged when the lecturer changed subjects.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
(Games) To determine the order of play by hitting or shooting a ball toward a mark, as in marbles or billiards, with the player whose ball stops closest to the mark going first.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
To fail to keep up with (another)
One horse lagged the others throughout the race.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
To proceed or develop at a slower pace than (another)
"putting new money into sectors that have lagged the market" (Peter Lynch).
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
The time interval between initiating a query, transmission, or process, and receiving or detecting the results, often given as an average value over a large number of events.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
(Sports) In golf, to hit (a putt) so that it stops a short way from the hole and can then be tapped in.
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
Concealment; the state of being latent; the state of being hidden.
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
(electronics) A delay, an interval between the initiation of something and the occurrence.
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
(medicine) The delay between a stimulus and the response it triggers in an organism.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
An interval between one event or phenomenon and another
"He wondered darkly at how great a lag there was between his thinking and his actions" (Thomas Wolfe).
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
A stage in Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory of the psychosexual development of children where children become asexual until their sexual desires come back at puberty.
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
The state or quality of being latent.
To simplify the discussion, I shall distinguish three degrees of this latency.
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
The time between a stimulus the appearance of the response; the time between any causal action and the first appearance of the effect. Called also latent period.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
A strip, as of wood, that forms a part of the covering for a cylindrical object.
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◉Latency
The time between exposure to a carcinogen or other disease-causing agent and the appearance of the consequent disease.
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May 03, 2023
◉Latency
(computer science) the time it takes for a specific block of data on a data track to rotate around to the read/write head
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
(countable) A gap, a delay; an interval created by something not keeping up; a latency.
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◉Lag
(snooker) A method of deciding which player shall start. Both players simultaneously strike a cue ball from the baulk line to hit the top cushion and rebound down the table; the player whose ball finishes closest to the baulk cushion wins.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
A stave of a cask, drum, etc.; especially (engineering) one of the narrow boards or staves forming the covering of a cylindrical object, such as a boiler, or the cylinder of a carding machine or steam engine.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
To cover (for example, pipes) with felt strips or similar material referring to a time lag effect in thermal transfer]].
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◉Lag
Coming tardily after or behind; slow; tardy.
Came too lag to see him buried.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
The fag-end; the rump; hence, the lowest class.
The common lag of people.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
The amount of retardation of anything, as of a valve in a steam engine, in opening or closing.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
The failing behind or retardation of one phenomenon with respect to another to which it is closely related; as, the lag of magnetization compared with the magnetizing force (hysteresis); the lag of the current in an alternating circuit behind the impressed electro-motive force which produced it.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
one of several thin slats of wood forming the sides of a barrel or bucket
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◉Lag
lock up or confine, in or as in a jail;
The suspects were imprisoned without trial
the murderer was incarcerated for the rest of his life
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May 03, 2023
◉Lag
The delay between an input and its corresponding output.
There was a slight lag when I pressed the button.
Kaitlyn
Sep 11, 2023
◉Lag
Falling behind in time or movement.
My watch seems to lag a few minutes every day.
Muazma Batool
Sep 11, 2023
◉Lag
A period of time between two events.
There's a lag between ordering and receiving the product.
Elijah
Sep 11, 2023
Latency vs. Lag Frequently Asked Questions
What do people mean when they talk about lag in gaming?
Lag is the delay players feel in a game's response, often due to high latency or other factors.
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Sep 11, 2023
Is latency the only reason for lag in online activities?
No, lag can result from high latency, packet loss, bandwidth issues, or server-side problems.
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Sep 11, 2023
What is latency in terms of data transmission?
Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from its source to its destination.
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Sep 11, 2023
Can latency be zero?
Idealistically, yes, but practically there's always some latency due to physical and systemic factors.
Olivia
Sep 11, 2023
Why is latency critical in live video streaming?
High latency can cause delays in streaming, leading to a poor user experience.
Henry
Sep 11, 2023
Does lag affect only real-time tasks?
While most noticeable in real-time tasks, lag can affect any activity where timely response is expected.
Leo
Sep 11, 2023
Can lag be experienced in offline applications?
Yes, lag can occur in offline applications due to system performance issues, not just high latency.
Levi
Sep 11, 2023
How can I reduce latency in my network?
Optimizing your internet connection, using wired connections, and using quality routers can help reduce latency.
Henry
Sep 11, 2023
Is lag always bad?
In most user experiences, yes. But in some contexts, like certain artistic audio effects, it might be desirable.
Olivia
Sep 11, 2023
How are latency and lag connected?
Lag is often a manifestation of high latency, especially in real-time digital tasks.
Kaitlyn
Sep 11, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
