Latency: Definition, Features & Benefits

What is Latency?

Latency refers to the delay between sending a request and receiving a response. In the context of cloud computing – often called cloud latency – it describes the time required for data to travel from an end device to the cloud infrastructure and back. The term latency time is commonly used as a synonym for this delay.

What factors determine latency?

Latency is influenced by several factors, including: the physical network distance between the user and the cloud server, network congestion, the efficiency of routing and processing times on both the sending and receiving sides.

In complex cloud architectures, additional latency may occur due to internal routing across multiple layers – such as in two- or three-tier applications – which can reduce overall performance.

In practice, latency is often measured as round-trip time (RTT), meaning the total time taken for a request to be sent and a complete response returned. Latency is distinct from throughput (bandwidth): while latency measures delay, throughput indicates the amount of data transferred per unit of time.

What are the Benefits of Low Latency?

Low latency is vital for delivering a positive user experience. It enables seamless real-time applications, such as video conferencing without audio issues or online gaming with highly responsive controls. Short response times are also essential for interactive web services, where delays can significantly diminish usability.

For organisations, reduced latency improves productivity by allowing faster access to cloud services, databases, and applications. Even minor delays can negatively affect efficiency and business operations. In industries that depend on real-time data – such as IoT applications or data-driven decision-making – low latency is indispensable.

Optimised latency also reduces the need for expensive over-provisioning, as workloads can be processed more efficiently. This lowers costs while improving performance. Furthermore, low latency is a key requirement for edge computing and 5G networks, both of which depend on rapid data transmission to support real-time use cases such as industrial automation, smart city solutions, and telemedicine.

For these reasons, latency is increasingly becoming a strategic factor in modern digital infrastructure.