Don’t Lose to Lag: A Gamer’s Guide to Latency and Ping

First, latency is the amount of time (measured in milliseconds, or "ms" for short) it takes for internet data and information (i.e., a "data packet") to be sent back and forth from one designated point to another. 

To put it in gaming terms, latency refers to the total time it takes anything a gamer "inputs" while playing a game on his or her device (and the internet) to be received by the game's server and returned to the gamer's device. In Fortnite, for example, that could be a "command" for a character to run in a particular direction or use a skill. 

Those commands (or inputs) are sent from a player's device and internet to Fortnite's servers and then returned to the player's home internet and device on the screen. What matters is just how fast that happens and if there is any delay.

Low Latency (Good!) and High Latency (Bad!) 

To reiterate, the measure of the time that a round-trip of gaming data takes is called latency-and the shorter the trip takes, the better! Gamers need the response time of their own inputs and the game's servers' responses to those inputs to be as short as possible-even undetectable by the user. 

This refers to "low latency," which gamers (and other savvy internet users) value highly. The lower the latency, the faster the response time-and the better the experience for players. Typically, gamers will want latency to be 50ms or less. Ideally, however, 20ms or less is the sweet spot, with single-digit latency being the "Holy Grail" for dedicated gamers. 

On the other hand, "high latency," which refers to longer, even delayed responses to a gamer's inputs, can be profoundly frustrating and lead to dismal user experiences. Gamers will notice problems when latency exceeds 100ms (or to some particularly discerning players, even when latency is higher than 50ms). 

Games will be practically unplayable when latency is higher than 200ms. That's why gamers must always consider an internet connection's latency to optimize their play. And measuring that latency is where ping comes into play!

What Is Ping? 

We now turn to ping, which refers to two computing ideas. But remember, using the terms ping and latency interchangeably is expected. So, in common parlance, ping can, like latency, refer to the delay of travel time of data being sent over an internet connection. (This is also sometimes called "lag.") 

However, there is a second use of ping that is different but interrelated to latency. In that other context, ping also refers to a utility program on internet-connected devices that sends a signal to measure the time it takes for a user's device to hit (or "ping") a server. 

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You've probably heard that you should "test your ping." Testing ping involves using that built-in utility to measure the response time and even diagnose any network connectivity problems. To keep things simple, ping is usually tested as part of a speed test to help you predict your latency during game time. 

We know these terms can sound redundant or even confusing. What's important to remember, however, is that gamers will want low latency, low ping, and minimal lag for a better experience no matter what terms are used!

Why Gamers Need Fiber 

Having explained these terms, we next turn to why fiber is simply the best technology for gamers to minimize latency and ping drastically. 

Compared to older forms of internet, like copper-wired coaxial cable, fiber's advanced materials can send data over an internet connection at nearly the speed of light. That means that fiber's speeds routinely hit or exceed 1Gig per second! In general, the higher the download speed, the lower the latency. 

But fiber's exceptional download speeds are just the beginning. Fiber's generous bandwidth also plays a role in improving latency and ping. The greater the bandwidth capacity, the more information can be transmitted back-and-forth over an internet connection at any one moment. That allows more data to seamlessly transfer in fewer milliseconds, dramatically lowering latency and improving the response times gamers experience. 

Highline's Gaming Package is designed for online gamers who need a reliable and fast internet connection. This package lets you play your favorite games without lag or latency issues and even has a dedicated IP address included. It offers low ping times, high-speed downloads, and stable connectivity, making it perfect for multiplayer games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Apex Legends. 

So, if you're ready to rid yourself of high latency and delayed response times due to slower, inferior internet, reach out to Highline today. Our knowledgeable agents can answer any questions you may have about our advanced fiber network and plans. For more tips to optimize your gaming experience, follow Highline's social pages!