Packet Loss
Noun · Development
Definitions
The failure of one or more network packets to reach their destination, caused by congestion, faulty hardware, signal degradation, or deliberate QoS dropping. TCP automatically retransmits lost packets at the cost of latency, while UDP simply loses them, making packet loss particularly impactful for real-time applications like VoIP and gaming.
In plain English: When pieces of data sent over a network never arrive at their destination, causing glitches, slowdowns, or missing information.
Example: "The video call kept freezing — turns out the office Wi-Fi had 8% packet loss on the 5 GHz band."