Latency vs. Jitter: Differences, Causes, and Solutions

Latency and jitter are two major factors affecting real-time communication efficiency. Latency refers to the delay in data transmission, while jitter denotes the variation within this delay. Both can cause significant disruption to audio or video applications, leading to stuttering calls, robotic feedback, buffering delays, or dropped connections. To minimize these issues, developers must understand their causes and learn how to test and monitor latency and jitter. Various strategies can be employed to reduce both, such as setting up a content delivery network (CDN), eliminating bottlenecks, using download managers, optimizing network configurations, and implementing jitter buffers. Agora's platform is designed to provide developers with the tools they need to create seamless real-time communication experiences by minimizing latency and jitter.