Laterframe

Laterframe is a multi-disciplinary term used to describe a frame that becomes relevant at a point on the timeline beyond the current moment. The concept is used in digital media, computing, and narrative studies, with meanings that vary by context but share the core idea of a frame whose relevance is delayed relative to the immediate present.

In computing and video technology, a laterframe often denotes a frame produced or delivered after some delay. This can support buffering strategies, adaptive streaming, or speculative rendering, where a system renders or transmits potential future frames to improve responsiveness or continuity when data arrives late or bandwidth fluctuates. In such contexts, laterframes are typically managed by timing controls, buffers, and prediction algorithms.

In narrative and game studies, laterframe refers to a moment or image that depicts events that occur after the currently referenced moment in the story. Analysts use the idea to discuss pacing, foreshadowing, and non-linear time structures, where laterframes influence viewer expectations about what comes next.

In design and user experience, the term may describe deferred rendering or progressive disclosure of content, where elements are shown only after a trigger or delay, effectively creating a laterframe in the interface.

See also: time frame, keyframe, buffering, predictive rendering, narrative pacing.