What is low latency access of data?

performance memory dataflow low-latency multiplexing
Debashisenator picture Debashisenator · Sep 16, 2013 · Viewed 35.1k times · Source

What do you mean by low latency access of data?

I am actually confused about the definition of the term "LATENCY".

Can anyone please elaborate the term "Latency".

Answer

Eli Algranti picture Eli Algranti · Sep 16, 2013
  • Latency - The time it takes to access data.
  • Bandwidth - How much data you can get.

The classic example:

A wagon full of backup tapes is high latency, high bandwidth. There's a lot of information in those backup tapes, but it takes a long time for a wagon to get anywhere.

Low latency networks are important for streaming services. Voice streaming needs very low bandwidth (4 kbps for telephone quality AFAIR) but needs the packets to arrive fast. A voice call on a high latency network results in time lag between the speakers, even if there is enough bandwidth.

Other applications where latency is important:

  • Some types of online gaming (FPS, RTS, etc.)
  • Algorithmic trading

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