Netzwerkjitter

Netzwerkjitter, often simply called jitter, refers to the variation in the delay of received packets in a network. It occurs when packets arrive at their destination at irregular intervals, rather than with consistent timing. This inconsistency is a deviation from the expected, steady flow of data.

Jitter is caused by several factors within a network. Network congestion is a primary culprit, where too much traffic overwhelms network devices, leading to delays and reordering of packets. Inefficient routing, where data takes different paths and thus experiences varying transit times, can also contribute. Furthermore, issues with network hardware, such as malfunctioning routers or switches, or even the processing time of network interfaces, can introduce jitter.

The impact of jitter is most noticeable in real-time applications. For voice over IP (VoIP) calls, jitter can manifest as choppy audio, dropped words, or echoes. In video conferencing, it can lead to pixelation, freezing of video feeds, or audio-video synchronization problems. Online gaming is also highly sensitive to jitter, as it can result in lag, delayed actions, and a generally unresponsive gameplay experience.

Mitigating jitter typically involves implementing quality of service (QoS) mechanisms on network devices. These mechanisms prioritize certain types of traffic, ensuring that time-sensitive data receives preferential treatment. Jitter buffers, which are small amounts of memory on network devices, can also help by temporarily storing incoming packets and reordering them before they are delivered to the application, smoothing out the arrival times.