Which statement best defines jitter in network performance?

Which statement best defines jitter in network performance?

• A. Latency is the maximum packet size.
• B. A measure of overall bandwidth usage.
• C. A method to limit the number of concurrent connections.
• D. Variation in delay between packets.

Answer: (D)

Jitter measures how much the timing of packet arrivals varies. In a steady network, each packet would arrive after a consistent delay, but real paths introduce queuing, congestion, and routing changes that can make some packets take longer than others. This variation in delay between packets is what we call jitter, and it matters for real-time apps like voice or video, where uneven packet spacing can cause gaps or choppy playback. Latency is the delay of a single packet, not the fluctuation between packets. Bandwidth usage describes how much data is moved over time, not the timing consistency. Limiting the number of concurrent connections is about restricting connections, not timing variation.

Jitter measures how much the timing of packet arrivals varies. In a steady network, each packet would arrive after a consistent delay, but real paths introduce queuing, congestion, and routing changes that can make some packets take longer than others. This variation in delay between packets is what we call jitter, and it matters for real-time apps like voice or video, where uneven packet spacing can cause gaps or choppy playback.

Latency is the delay of a single packet, not the fluctuation between packets. Bandwidth usage describes how much data is moved over time, not the timing consistency. Limiting the number of concurrent connections is about restricting connections, not timing variation.