What is Network Latency, What Causes it, and How can it be Improved?

 

Imagine a network as a team of people working together to get things done. They need to communicate and pass information to each other to provide services, just like team members talking to each other to complete a task.

Now, sometimes, there can be problems or obstacles that slow down this communication process. It's like team members facing challenges that make it harder for them to share information efficiently.

When these issues occur, it creates a delay in providing the services the network is supposed to offer. This delay is what we call "network latency," which is similar to team members experiencing delays in their communication that hinder their ability to get things done quickly and smoothly.

The same ideology in computer networks: Network latency is the result of interconnected components that allow the Internet to facilitate various activities on online platforms. These components include computers, servers, modems, routers, fibre optic cables, firewalls, and many others that all work together in a network. When problems occur within these components, it leads to network latency, which causes delays and interruptions in online services.

In today's digital world, online platforms have become an integral part of our daily activities. Whether it's communication, shopping, banking, entertainment, or work-related tasks, we heavily rely on the internet for almost everything.

The internet is like a massive web that connects countless computers and servers across the globe. It enables people, businesses, and governments from different parts of the world to exchange information and communicate with each other seamlessly.

For a better understanding consider the following example:

In today's world, we often rely on online food delivery applications to order our favourite meals. Now, picture yourself using a well-known online platform for this purpose. However, if the application's internet system is not performing well, you might experience network latency, leading to delays and disruptions in the ordering process.

The online food delivery application functions as a network of both software and hardware components. If the application server experiences downtime or slow page loading, you won't be able to place your order and might choose to exit the application.

Moreover, during peak times when numerous orders are placed, the application may get stuck due to high network traffic. This congestion can lead to slow response times, resulting in communication gaps and delayed food deliveries.

In various fields, from web development to e-commerce, we create numerous applications and websites. In today's fast-paced world, people seek quick and responsive online platforms. To attract users to these websites and applications, we employ various digital marketing strategies.

However, sometimes, developers overlook the importance of network latency in ensuring the stability of their applications and websites. High network latency can result in a high bounce rate, where users quickly leave the site due to slow loading times or unresponsiveness. Consequently, this leads to a low conversion rate, affecting the potential to attract and retain customers.

To optimize user experience, developers should focus on minimizing network latency. By doing so, they can attract more customers, reduce bounce rates, and improve the chances of successful conversions.

In this blog, we will explore the concept of network latency and delve into effective strategies to minimize it.

What is Network Latency?

Network latency refers to the time delay experienced in data communication between two points over a network. It is the time taken for data packets to travel from the source to the destination, including the time spent waiting at various network devices such as routers, switches, and servers.

Network latency is typically measured in milliseconds (ms) and can vary depending on the distance between communication devices and the network infrastructure's quality. 

Types of Network Latency

1. Low Network Latency -  Lower latency is preferable since it denotes faster data transfer and quicker response times, which improve user experiences for online activities including web browsing, online gaming, video conferencing, and more. 

2. High Network Latency - High network latency can cause delays, buffering, and poor performance, especially in real-time applications.

What is a Good Latency?

A decent network latency is determined by the context as well as the apps or services that are being used. Lower network latency is generally preferred because it suggests faster communication and responsiveness between devices or systems. What is considered "good" can, however, change depending on the unique use situation. Here are some broad recommendations for many scenarios:

Online gaming: Requires low latency to provide seamless and responsive gameplay. A network latency of 20-50 milliseconds (ms) is considered acceptable for most gaming sessions.

Video Conferencing: For video conferencing and real-time communication applications, a network latency of 50-150 ms is often acceptable. Lower latency will result in a more seamless experience.

Web browsing: For routine web browsing and website access, a latency of 100-500 ms may not have a significant influence on the user experience. Lower latency, on the other hand, is always recommended for a more responsive browsing experience.

File Transfers: For file transfers, backup services, or cloud storage access, a latency of 100-500 ms is usually acceptable, but faster is better.

Voice over IP (VoIP): Lower latency is necessary for VoIP calls to avoid delays and choppy audio. A network latency of 150 ms or less is deemed acceptable for VoIP applications.

Financial Transactions: In financial trading and transactions, particularly in high-frequency trading conditions, extremely low latency is crucial. Even milliseconds of delay can have substantial consequences, and latencies of 1-10 ms are frequently sought after in these cases.

How does Latency Work?

The time lag that happens when data or signals move between two sites in a network is known as latency. It is a significant element that affects how responsive and effective various applications and services are. Let's examine how network latency functions:

Data Transmission: When you submit data, such as a web request, from your device (e.g., computer, smartphone), the data is split into tiny packets for transmission.

Propagation Delay: The information moves through numerous physical channels, including wires, fibre optics, and wireless signals. The propagation delay, or the amount of time it takes for signals to move between two points, occurs while the data is moving through various mediums.

Transmission Delay: The time it takes for each packet to go from your device to the first network device, like a router or switch, and then be transferred down the network to the destination, is known as transmission delay.

Processing Delay: Each network device may process data, such as make judgements about routing or check for errors, which increases the overall latency.

Queueing Delay: When there is network congestion or high traffic, data packets may need to wait in line at network devices before being forwarded to their destination, causing queueing delays.

Server processing: After the data packets arrive at the target server, the server deals with the request and produces a response. Additionally adding to the overall latency is this processing time.

Return Transmission: The server's response is split into packets and sent back to your device. This process, like the preceding ones, involves propagation, transmission, processing, and queueing delays.

Total Latency: The total latency is the total time required for all of the preceding steps, including the time required for the request to reach the destination and the response to return to the source.

Latency vs. Bandwidth vs. Throughput

The terms latency, bandwidth, and throughput, though sometimes used interchangeably in networking, really refer to separate characteristics of network performance. Let's define the variations between these terms:

Latency: 

• The temporal delay that happens when data or signals go from their source to their destination in a network is known as latency. Usually, it is expressed in milliseconds (ms).

• The time it takes for a single packet to go from the sender to the receiver and back is known as latency. It encompasses some delays, including queueing, processing, and propagation delays.

• Lower latency is essential for real-time applications like online gaming, video conferencing, VoIP conversations, and other interactive services because it provides faster replies and more streamlined user experiences.

Bandwidth:

• Bandwidth refers to the maximum data transfer rate or capacity of a network channel, which is typically defined as bits per second (bps) or a higher unit such as megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps).

• The potential for a network to carry data is represented by its bandwidth. It's frequently referred to as the "pipe size" or the maximum amount of data that may be sent in a specific amount of time. For example, consider the transportation of coal through a specific-sized pipeline within a designated time frame from one location to another.

• Higher bandwidth enables more data to be delivered at the same time, resulting in faster data transfers. It is useful in instances involving huge file transfers, media streaming, and situations with several concurrent users.

Throughput:

• Throughput is the quantity of data that successfully goes across a network channel in a particular period, and it is typically measured in bits per second (bps), which is the same unit as bandwidth.

• Numerous factors, such as latency, bandwidth, network congestion, packet loss, and other performance-related problems, have an impact on throughput.

• The effective data transfer rate is known as throughput, which takes into account any network inefficiencies or overhead. It is a useful indicator of network performance in actual circumstances.

Causes of Network Latency

To identify and fix performance problems, it is crucial to comprehend the various reasons for network latency. The following are some typical reasons for network latency:

Distance: The physical distance between the source and destination might add to the delay since data signals require time to travel across networks. This is known as propagation delay.

Network Congestion: When a network is overburdened with traffic or data packets, it can cause a queueing delay, in which packets must wait in queues before being forwarded, resulting in increased latency.

Router and Switch Processing: Network devices such as routers and switches require time to evaluate incoming data packets, make routing decisions, and transfer them to the correct destination. This processing lag can increase total latency.

Signal Interference: In wireless networks, signal interference from other devices or physical impediments can cause data retransmissions, resulting in greater delay.

Bandwidth Limitations: Insufficient network bandwidth can cause data bottlenecking and greater latency, especially during periods of high demand.

Server Processing Time: It could take some time for a server to process a request after receiving it, carry out the necessary procedures, and produce a response. When communicating between clients and servers, latency is a factor.

Protocol Overhead: Network protocols include headers and other control information to data packets, increasing their size and contributing to transmission delays.

Round-Trip Time (RTT): The time taken for a packet to travel from the source to the destination and back is known as the Round-Trip Time. High RTT values can indicate longer latency.

Geographic Location: Servers in far geographic regions may provide additional latency due to higher data transmission distances.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) Performance: Because different ISPs may have different network infrastructures and peering arrangements, your ISP's quality and performance can have an impact on latency.

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): Although CDNs can lower latency for information that is cached, accessing content that is not in the CDN's cache may result in increased latency.

Network Errors and Packet Loss: Packet loss due to faults or network congestion might result in retransmissions, which causes latency.

Impacts of Network Latency

Network latency can have a substantial impact on a variety of network performance and user experience metrics. Here are some of the most significant consequences of network latency:

Slow Response Time: Applications and services respond more slowly when there is more latency. Users may see difficulties when loading websites, sending or receiving emails, or utilising online tools.

Reduced Real-Time Communication Quality: Latency can have an impact on real-time communication applications such as VoIP calls and video conferencing. High latency can create audio and video delays, resulting in choppy or out-of-sync communication.

Gaming Experience: Latency is extremely important in online gaming. Higher latency can cause delays between player actions and game replies, causing lag and significantly harming the gaming experience.

Slow File Transfers: Latency can have an impact on file transfer speeds, particularly for large files. Even with substantial bandwidth, high latency can cause file uploads and downloads to be delayed.

Sluggish Cloud Applications: Performance issues caused by latency could affect cloud-based services. Users can encounter delays when using cloud-based platforms, accessing files, or executing apps.

Impact on Financial Transactions: In financial trading, latency is essential. Higher latency can slow trade execution and cause delays in getting market data, potentially leading to financial losses.

User Frustration and Abandonment: Long wait times can annoy customers to the point where they leave websites or applications, which costs businesses opportunities and lowers user happiness.

Impact on IoT Devices:  In Internet of Things (IoT) applications, high latency can affect real-time data processing and control, potentially leading to delayed actions and reduced efficiency in IoT systems.

Multiplayer Gaming and Collaboration: Latency affects team communication and real-time interactions between players or participants in cooperative and multiplayer gaming contexts.

Video Streaming Quality: High latency can cause delays and lower video quality for streaming services, which can impact the entire viewing experience.

SEO and Website Ranking: Search engines consider page load times, which are affected by latency when ranking websites. Higher latency can negatively impact a website's search engine ranking.

Impact on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): High latency VPN connections can make it difficult to access remote resources quickly and harm the effectiveness of remote work.

How to Monitor, Fix and Reduce Network Latency?

1. Monitor Latency: 

Use Network Monitoring Tools: Utilise network monitoring software to monitor latency and other performance indicators. These technologies can offer historical and real-time statistics on network latency, assisting you in spotting trends and potential problems.

Set Baseline: Establish baseline latency values during periods of normal network activity to learn what is typical for your network.

2. Identify Latency Causes:

Analyze Network Topology: Understand the network topology and detect potential bottlenecks, congested lines, and high latency zones.

Check Network Hardware: Ensure that network hardware, including switches, routers, and network interface cards, are up to date with the latest software and functioning properly.

3. Measuring Network Latency:

To measure network latency, you can use various methods and tools. Here are some common approaches:

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  Utilize the built-in "ping" command available on most operating systems. Enter "ping [destination]" in the command prompt or terminal, and it will display the round-trip time (RTT) in milliseconds (ms) for each reply.

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  Employ the "traceroute" command to see the route taken by packets to reach the destination and observe the latency at each hop.

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  Consider using ping monitoring tools like fping or mtr (My TraceRoute) for continuous and advanced ping testing.

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  Deploy network monitoring software such as Nagios, PRTG, or Zabbix to collect real-time and historical latency data.

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  Utilize performance monitoring solutions like SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor or Grafana to track latency and other network metrics.

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  Monitor Quality of Service (QoS) statistics if implemented to manage latency for prioritized traffic.

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  Use packet capture tools like Wireshark to capture network traffic and analyze latency and response times for specific packets.

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  Implement Real User Monitoring (RUM) tools to gain insights into the actual latency experienced by end-users.

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  Consider using cloud providers' monitoring tools for cloud services, which often include latency metrics for hosted applications.

4. Reducing Network Latency

Reducing network latency entails applying numerous ways to optimise network performance and reduce data transmission time delays. Here are some successful methods for reducing network latency:

4.1 Optimize Network Infrastructure

• Upgrade network infrastructure and equipment to provide faster data speeds and shorter processing times.

• Use faster network cables, such as Cat6 or Cat7, to increase data transfer rates.

• Implement efficient and fast networking equipment such as routers, switches, and network interface cards.

4.2 Reduce Network Congestion

• Utilise Quality of Service (QoS) methods to provide priority to important traffic and stop less time-critical data from impairing performance.

• To regulate data flow and allot bandwidth effectively, use traffic shaping.

• To prevent overloading any particular network link, load balance traffic among several pathways.

4.3 Use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs):

• Use CDNs to cache and serve material closer to end users, cutting down on the latency caused by retrieving data from far-off servers.

4.4 Minimize Signal Interference:

• Utilising channels with low traffic and placing access points strategically will help wireless networks reduce signal interference.

4.5 Optimize Server and Application Performance:

• Make sure that servers hosting crucial applications are performance-optimized to cut down on processing times and response delays.

• Lessen the need for network queries by optimising your applications.

4.6 Implement Caching Strategies:

• To eliminate the requirement for repeated network data requests, cache frequently accessed data.

4.7 Use Faster Data Transmission Protocols:

• Consider using faster transmission protocols like TCP Fast Open (TFO) or Multipath TCP (MPTCP) to reduce connection setup time.

4.8 Optimize Routing:

• To ensure that data travels the shortest and quickest route possible to its destination, use effective routing protocols.

4.9 Minimize Packet Loss:

• Investigate and resolve packet loss problems, as retransmission of missed packets can cause latency to increase.

4.10 Choose Data Centers Strategically:

• When hosting apps or services, use data centres that are closer to your target audience to minimise geographic latency.

4.11 Use Low-Latency Network Equipment:

• Choose network hardware such as switches or network interface cards (NICs) that are optimised for low-latency needs.

4.12 Regular Network Maintenance:

• Inspect and maintain network gear and equipment regularly to guarantee peak performance.

Wrapping Up

Network latency is crucial in defining the responsiveness and functionality of our interconnected environment. It is the time lag that data endures as it travels from its source to its destination via networks. While complete eradication of network latency is unattainable, minimising it has become an urgent aim for organisations and individuals seeking to give an optimal user experience while maximising profit.

For a website to run optimally and to improve user experience, latency must be kept to a minimum. A quick and responsive website is more likely to keep users on it and motivate them to interact with the information, goods, or services provided.

To achieve lower latency and ensure optimal website performance, businesses and website owners should focus on implementing various optimisation techniques, such as using content delivery networks (CDNs), selecting efficient hosting providers, optimising server-side processing, and regularly monitoring and analysing website performance metrics. By prioritising low latency, websites can attract and keep more users, resulting in higher engagement and business consequences.