Internet Speed Glossary

A type of DSL internet connection where download speeds are faster than upload speeds. Common in residential internet service using telephone lines.

The maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over an internet connection in a given time, measured in Mbps or Gbps. Often used interchangeably with "speed."

The smallest unit of digital data, represented as 0 or 1. Eight bits make one byte. Internet speeds are measured in bits per second (not bytes).

High-speed internet access that is always on and faster than dial-up. Includes cable, DSL, fiber, and wireless technologies.

The process of pre-loading data before playback. Buffering occurs when your internet is too slow to keep up with streaming content, causing pauses.

A unit of digital information equal to 8 bits. File sizes are measured in bytes (KB, MB, GB, TB), while internet speeds are measured in bits (Kbps, Mbps, Gbps).

Broadband internet service delivered through coaxial cable television lines. Typically offers 25-1000 Mbps speeds with shared bandwidth in neighborhoods.

A type of cable used for cable television and internet. Consists of a copper core surrounded by insulation and shielding.

A limit on how much data you can use per month before facing extra charges or throttled speeds. Common caps range from 250 GB to unlimited.

Translates website names (like google.com) into IP addresses that computers use. Faster DNS servers can speed up page loading times.

Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification. The standard for transmitting data over cable systems. DOCSIS 3.1 supports multi-gigabit speeds.

How quickly data travels from the internet to your device, measured in Mbps. Affects streaming, browsing, and downloading files.

Internet service delivered through telephone lines without interfering with phone service. Speeds typically range from 5-100 Mbps.

A wired network connection using cables (typically Cat5e or Cat6) to connect devices to routers or modems. Faster and more stable than WiFi.

Internet technology using light pulses through glass or plastic fibers to transmit data. The fastest type of internet, offering speeds from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps.

Security system that monitors and controls network traffic, protecting your network from unauthorized access and threats.

Software embedded in hardware devices like routers and modems. Regular firmware updates improve performance and security.

A standard protocol for transferring files over the internet. Upload and download speeds are tested using FTP-like transfers.

A combined modem and router in one device, commonly provided by ISPs. Serves as the entry point for your internet connection.

A measure of data transfer speed equal to 1,000 Mbps or one billion bits per second. Used for very high-speed connections.

A physical location or device that provides WiFi internet access, typically using cellular data or public internet connection.

A company that provides internet access to customers. Examples include Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, and Spectrum.

A unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to the internet, like a home address for your device (e.g., 192.168.1.1).

Variation in ping/latency over time. High jitter causes unstable connections, stuttering in video calls, and lag spikes in games. Low jitter (under 30ms) is ideal.

A measure of data transfer speed equal to 1,000 bits per second. Dial-up speeds were measured in Kbps. Modern broadband uses Mbps or Gbps.

A network connecting devices in a limited area, like your home. Includes wired (ethernet) and wireless (WiFi) connections within your house.

The time delay between sending and receiving data, measured in milliseconds (ms). Also called ping. Lower latency means more responsive internet.

4G wireless broadband technology used by cell phones and mobile hotspots. Typical speeds range from 10-50 Mbps.

A unique identifier assigned to network devices. Used by routers to identify and manage connected devices.

The standard unit for measuring internet speed, equal to one million bits per second. Most residential plans range from 25-1000 Mbps.

A WiFi system using multiple nodes that work together to provide seamless coverage throughout large homes or buildings.

A device that connects your home network to your ISP, converting signals for data transmission. Required for internet access.

Router technology that allows simultaneous data transmission to multiple devices, improving performance when many devices are connected.

Reduced internet speeds caused by heavy usage during peak times, especially on shared connections like cable internet.

A small unit of data transmitted over networks. Internet data is broken into packets, sent separately, and reassembled at destination.

When data packets fail to reach their destination, causing connection issues, lag in games, or artifacts in video streams.

A test measuring latency between your device and a server, reported in milliseconds. Lower ping (under 50ms) means better responsiveness.

A physical connection point on a router or modem for ethernet cables, or a virtual channel for different types of internet traffic.

A set of rules governing how data is transmitted over networks. Common protocols include TCP/IP, HTTP, and FTP.

Router feature that prioritizes certain types of traffic (like gaming or video calls) over others, improving performance for priority activities.

A device that distributes internet from your modem to multiple devices via ethernet or WiFi. Creates your home network.

Your WiFi network's name that appears when scanning for networks. Can be customized in router settings.

Internet service delivered via satellites orbiting Earth. Available anywhere but typically has high latency (500-800ms for traditional satellites).

A computer that stores and delivers data to other devices. Speed tests measure your connection to test servers.

A tool that measures your internet connection's download speed, upload speed, and ping by transferring data to and from test servers.

Watching or listening to content over the internet without downloading the entire file first. Requires consistent bandwidth.

Internet connection with equal download and upload speeds. Common with fiber internet, unlike cable/DSL which have asymmetric speeds.

The fundamental protocols that make the internet work, governing how data is transmitted and routed between devices.

The actual amount of data successfully transferred over a connection, which may be less than theoretical maximum bandwidth.

When an ISP intentionally slows your internet speed, often after exceeding data caps or during network congestion.

How quickly data travels from your device to the internet, measured in Mbps. Important for video conferencing, uploading files, and live streaming.

Service that encrypts your internet connection and routes it through remote servers, providing privacy and security but typically reducing speed by 10-50%.

Faster version of DSL offering speeds up to 100+ Mbps, but only over short distances from the provider's equipment.

A network covering a large geographical area. The internet itself is the largest WAN. Your WAN port connects to your ISP.

Wireless networking technology that allows devices to connect to the internet without cables using radio waves. Standards include WiFi 5, WiFi 6, and WiFi 6E.

The latest WiFi standard offering faster speeds, better efficiency, and improved performance with multiple devices compared to older standards.

Security protocols that encrypt WiFi networks. WPA3 is newest and most secure. Always use WPA2 or WPA3, never outdated WEP.

WiFi frequency band offering longer range but slower speeds (up to 600 Mbps) and more interference than 5 GHz.

WiFi frequency band providing faster speeds (up to 1300+ Mbps) but shorter range than 2.4 GHz, with less interference.

Fifth generation cellular network technology offering speeds from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps. Increasingly used for home internet service.

The IEEE standard for WiFi. Different versions include 802.11n (WiFi 4), 802.11ac (WiFi 5), and 802.11ax (WiFi 6).