![]() ISPs use bandwidth numbers in their ads instead of speed because that’s the number they can control. In the analogy, imagine it as the difference between your car’s theoretical max speed and the actual speed limit and conditions of the road. If your maximum bandwidth is higher than that of the server you’re connecting to, you’ll have to work at the lower speed. There’s another reason speed is different from bandwidth: Origin servers and destination servers don’t always allow the same maximum speeds. On a website, issues might include an overloaded server, downtime or poor data distribution. On highways, the problem might be heavy traffic, accidents or road construction. You might manage it if there’s no traffic, but with a lot of other cars on the road, you’ll always travel a little slower than the road allows. Most highways have speed limits, but when driving on the highway, you don’t often get to go the speed limit. Read our bandwidth vs data rate guide rate to learn more. To oversimplify: Maximum bandwidth determines how much data your internet connection can move at one time, while speed is the amount of data it is moving. However, their accurate definitions differ slightly. Is Internet Speed Connected to Bandwidth?īandwidth and speed are extremely similar measurements, and they’re often used interchangeably. Just remember, you need a wide road and a fast car to move quickly. The thing people usually call “speed” is more about the potential for speed, while “latency” - which sounds like a measure of inaction - is the actual measure of speed. This article will tell you the difference between latency and speed, the tasks for which each metric matters most and how you can use this information to get the fastest internet possible.įor the best internet experience, you need plenty of lanes, a clear path to your goal and a vehicle that can get you there. If you want to optimize your Ethernet or WiFi network connection, you’ll need to get all three numbers to their best ranges. ![]() Speed is further split into two measures, upload speed and download speed. Latency and speed are metrics that determine how “fast” your internet connection can run. If you’re the sort who likes to do a lot of comparison shopping, you may be wondering how to distinguish latency vs speed. Whether you’re buying an internet plan or choosing an app that might affect your system resources (like an antivirus or virtual private network), speed is likely to be a top consideration. Avoid high-latency satellite internet connections.Įveryone wants fast internet. To improve your latency (lower is better), use closer servers, get fiber-optic or cable internet, use a wired internet connection and get an up-to-date router.Both are useful for browsing and video chatting. Latency is most important for online gaming, while speed is most important for streaming.Bandwidth is your highest possible download rate, while speed is your actual download rate. Latency refers to how quickly your online device can communicate, while speed measures the amount of data it can download or upload at a time. Latency and speed are different things.Reviewed by Jackie Leavitt ( Chief Editor)įacts checked by Vildana Bratic ( Video Editor, Fact-Checking Editor)Īll our content is written fully by humans we do not publish AI writing. How to Create a Strong Password in 2024: Secure Password Generator & 6 Tips for Strong Passwords.How to Securely Store Passwords in 2024: Best Secure Password Storage.Best Password Manager for Small Business.Online Storage or Online Backup: What's The Difference?.On the other hand, a wired (Ethernet) connection from the device straight to the modem will be about the same as the network speed to your home or building. Over a WiFi connection, speed to your device may vary greatly depending on how close your device is to your WiFi point, as well as any obstructions or distance in between. Speed to your device may vary greatly depending on whether you have a wired or WiFi connection. ![]() This speed is measured to and from the device you are using to run the test, which means the type of connection has a big impact on the result. How quickly your internet can transfer that data from the network to your device and from your device back to the network determines your download and upload speed. Next, the speed test downloads and uploads a packet of data over that connection. The amount of time it takes for that information to make the trip is your ping. ![]() You will see the name in the lower right-hand corner of the testing window.Ī "packet" of information is sent from your device to the server and back. The internet speed test starts by identifying the network server that is closest to you.
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