Definition
Latency is a performance metric that measures the time delay between initiating an action on a blockchain network and the network’s observable response. It typically refers to the elapsed time from when a transaction is submitted or propagated until it is first acknowledged, included, or reflected in network state, and is used to characterize the responsiveness of blockchain communication and processing.
In Simple Terms
Latency is the waiting time between sending something to a blockchain and seeing the network react to it. It captures how long it takes for a submitted transaction or message to be noticed and handled by the network, indicating how quickly the system responds to activity.
Context and Usage
Latency is commonly discussed when evaluating blockchain network performance, especially alongside metrics such as throughput and block production characteristics. It is relevant to how nodes communicate, how transactions move across the network, and how quickly blocks become visible to participants. Researchers, developers, and infrastructure operators reference latency when describing network conditions, optimization goals, and performance characteristics of different blockchain designs.