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

Notably, some of these compounds synergized -- that is, achieved "greater than the sum of its parts" latency reversal -- when administered with preexisting LRA compounds.

From Science Daily

"The trouble is: until now, we didn't always know why this latency was happening."

From Science Daily

The devices showed very low latency -- that is, their reaction time was close to human reflexive movement.

From Science Daily

"This latency allows them to be overlooked, contributing to their eventual emergence as a serious invasive threat. They're like invasive time bombs."

From Science Daily

The key advantage of this approach is that it results in highly compressed data volumes and reduced latency, making the system more efficient than traditional methods.

From Science Daily