# Latency
> Latency is the delay before data starts moving between your device and a server.
Topics: Connectivity, Gaming
Difficulty: Everyday
Aliases: delay
Updated: 2026-06-26T08:00:00.000Z
## In one analogy

If bandwidth is road width, latency is the time before the first car starts moving.

## Go deeper
Latency is the delay before data starts moving between your device and a server. In everyday buying decisions, the useful question is not just what the spec says, but what it changes for comfort, cost, speed, safety, or battery life.