Jitter
Check variation in your connection latency.
Jitter distribution
- < 10 ms0%
- 10–20 ms0%
- 20–30 ms0%
- > 30 ms0%
Jitter is variation in packet delay. Lower jitter means a more stable connection for real-time applications.
Jitter test: how to interpret the result
Jitter describes variation between successive latency measurements. Low jitter means packet timing is more consistent, which matters for calls, games and other real-time traffic even when average latency looks acceptable.
| Measure | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Unit | ms | Displayed as semantic HTML |
| Better direction | Lower | Displayed as semantic HTML |
| Describes | Delay variation | Displayed as semantic HTML |
| Sensitive apps | Voice and gaming | Displayed as semantic HTML |
Methodology
We collect a series of browser timing samples and calculate variation between their delays. Jitter is displayed alongside latency and packet loss to avoid interpreting variability without context.
Full methodology →Data freshness
- Page updated
- Data period
- Live browser measurement
- Responsible editor
- Internet Analysis Research Team
Primary sources
- IETF RFC 3393IP packet delay variation
- Internet Analysis methodology
Limitations
- Browser timers and endpoint choice affect the sample.
- A short test may not capture occasional spikes.
- Application-specific jitter buffers can change perceived quality.
Related questions
What is high jitter?
There is no universal cutoff, but rapidly changing delay can disrupt real-time applications even when average latency is moderate.
What causes jitter?
Congestion, Wi-Fi interference, queueing and route changes commonly cause delay variation.
Can Ethernet reduce jitter?
Often yes, when Wi-Fi contention or interference is the source of instability.