targetTickRate

TargetTickRate is a configuration parameter used in real-time software, notably multiplayer game servers and physics simulations, that specifies the desired number of simulation updates (ticks) processed each second. It defines the cadence at which the server advances the game state, runs physics, resolves AI, and applies world changes. In many engines the main loop aims to complete one tick per 1/targetTickRate second, using a fixed time step, though some systems adjust timing adaptively while exposing a target value.

Effects and trade-offs: A higher tick rate improves the smoothness of movement and the determinism of simulations, and reduces the latency between player actions and server acknowledgment. However it increases CPU load, memory usage, and network bandwidth, since more state updates must be computed and transmitted. A lower tick rate lowers resource usage but can cause visible stutter, prediction errors, and greater reliance on client-side interpolation.

Typical values: 20–64 ticks per second are common for many games; 64 or 128 are used by more demanding competitive servers to improve precision and responsiveness. Some engines allow dynamically adjusting the tick rate, while others require a restart to apply changes. The appropriate value depends on game physics complexity, network conditions, and hardware.

Implementation notes: Fixed timestep designs emphasize determinism, with clients often using interpolation or extrapolation to render smooth frames at a separate client frame rate. Tick rate interacts with network update rate, latency targets, and client prediction, making careful tuning important for both performance and gameplay feel. See also: tick rate, fixed timestep, server performance, interpolation, latency.