Ping
The round-trip time for a small data packet to travel from your device to a server and back, measured in milliseconds.
What ping means
Ping is the round-trip time for a small data packet to travel from your device to a server and back. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). The term comes from sonar technology, where a sound pulse is sent out and the time until the echo returns is measured. In networking, a ping utility sends a tiny test packet and measures how long the response takes.
Ping and latency are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, though they are slightly different. Latency is the general concept of network delay. Ping is a specific measurement of that delay using the ICMP echo protocol. In practice, the numbers are similar, and most speed tests use "ping" to report latency.
A fast ping means your connection responds quickly. This matters for any activity where your device and a remote server need to exchange information in real time. Online gaming, live video calls, and remote desktop connections all benefit from low ping.
Why ping matters for your connection
High ping creates a noticeable delay between your action and the server's response. In an online game, this delay is called lag. A player pressing a button sees the result a fraction of a second later than they should, which can make the difference between winning and losing a fast-paced encounter.
For video calls, high ping can cause participants to talk over each other because the audio stream takes longer to travel between endpoints. Streaming video is more tolerant of high ping since it buffers ahead, but interactive content suffers immediately. Related: jitter and how it affects real-time connections. See also our guide on ping and latency explained.
Ping at a glance
| Ping Range | Rating | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 ms | Excellent | Competitive gaming, all real-time uses |
| 20-50 ms | Good | Casual gaming, video calls |
| 50-100 ms | Acceptable | Streaming, general use |
| 100-200 ms | Noticeable lag | Basic browsing, not gaming |
| Over 200 ms | Poor | Limited real-time use |
Common questions about ping
Under 30 ms is considered excellent for competitive gaming. Under 60 ms is acceptable for most casual multiplayer games. Above 100 ms, you will notice lag. Above 150 ms, fast-paced games become frustrating and difficult to play well.
Not directly. Ping is determined by the physical distance between you and the server, the quality of the routing path, and the type of connection. A slow 25 Mbps connection can have lower ping than a fast 500 Mbps connection on a worse routing path.
Network congestion is the main cause. During peak hours, more users are online and shared network infrastructure becomes more loaded, which increases round-trip times. Switching from Wi-Fi to Ethernet, which reduces local interference, can also stabilize ping readings.
Related terms
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