latency

[ leyt-n-see ]

noun

, plural la·ten·cies.

1. the state of being latent.
2. latent period.
3. Computers. the period of delay when one component of a hardware system is waiting for an action to be executed by another component.
4. Digital Technology. the time required online or in a network for the one-way or round-trip transfer of data between two nodes.
5. Digital Technology. (in virtual reality and other types of simulation) the discrepancy between the time delay of stimulus and response in the simulation as compared to the real-world equivalent.

Word History and Origins

Origin of latency¹

First recorded in 1630–40; lat(ent) + -ency

Example Sentences

In addition to the broader availability to stream this year’s Super Bowl on TV screens, CBS has worked to improve latency, or speed of the stream compared to the linear TV broadcast, Gerttula said.

From Digiday

That means latency is lower—so if someone uses a device to access an application, the time delay will be minimal.

From MIT Technology Review

We recommend checking out a few products that boast Bluetooth 5 connectivity, these are reported to deliver high-resolution audio playback with less latency.

From Popular-Science

Within Universal Analytics, event tracking requires additional processing which includes latency, and the data is typically not available until the following day.

From Search Engine Land

SLA requirements around reliability and latency will require operators to have a high degree of control over service quality to resolve issues in close to real time.

From MIT Technology Review

And thus it is that every Idealist, bleak and wintry as his mood may be, is conscious of the latency of spring.

From Project Gutenberg

Otherwise, in place of remaining in latency, they would assert themselves like men.

From Project Gutenberg

While those other mothers, by retaining such in latency, preserved them as a rich inheritance for male heirs.

From Project Gutenberg

The repression during the period of latency is an inner obstacle of this kind—or rather one which has become inner.

From Project Gutenberg

In other words it is the negative quality of passiveness either in recoverable latency or insipient latescence.

From Project Gutenberg