Good Network Latency

Network latency, which is the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination, is crucial for the performance of networked applications. The acceptable level of latency depends on the specific application or use case, and what is considered "good" can vary widely. However, here are some general guidelines:

• Gaming and Real-Time Applications: For online gaming, video conferencing, or other real-time applications, lower latency is crucial. Latency values below 50 milliseconds (ms) are generally considered good for these scenarios. Extremely low latency is often desired to provide a smooth and responsive user experience.
• VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol): VoIP calls are sensitive to latency. A latency of 150 ms or lower is often considered acceptable for clear voice communication. Higher latencies may result in noticeable delays and communication issues.
• General Web Browsing: For general web browsing, latency values below 100 ms are typically acceptable. Users may start to notice delays when latencies exceed this threshold, leading to a perceptible lag in loading web pages.
• File Transfers and Bulk Data Movement: Latency is also crucial for efficient file transfers and data synchronization. In these cases, latency values below 100 ms are generally acceptable, but the impact might depend on the volume of data being transferred.
• Video Streaming: Video streaming services can tolerate higher latency compared to real-time applications. Latency values below 100 ms are often acceptable, but higher latencies may not be as noticeable during video playback.

It's important to note that these are general guidelines, and the specific requirements for acceptable latency can vary based on user expectations and the nature of the application. In certain industries, such as finance or online gaming, even lower latency values may be necessary.

Network monitoring tools can help assess and analyze network latency. If you're experiencing latency issues, it's essential to investigate the root cause, whether it's related to the network infrastructure, internet service provider (ISP), or other factors.