Why is latency and bandwith separated? If latency is delay of data, and bandwith is data over time, shouldn’t one affect another? If it takes 5s for a car to start, and 10s to reach it’s destination, then the average speed would be spread out across the whole 15s. Should this not be the same?

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Why is latency and bandwith separated? If latency is delay of data, and bandwith is data over time, shouldn’t one affect another? If it takes 5s for a car to start, and 10s to reach it’s destination, then the average speed would be spread out across the whole 15s. Should this not be the same?

In: Technology

8 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Sending data is actually a two way communication. Computer 1 sends a package of data to computer 2. Computer 2 then sends an acknowledgement to computer 1 to say that it’s received the package of data, and it’s ready for the next. Latency is a measure of how fast this round trip happens. Bandwidth is a measure of how much data can physically be shoved down a cable in a set amount of time.

A high latency can mean computer 1 can’t send the data as fast as its capable of because it’s spending a long time waiting for acknowledgements from computer 2.

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