Rubber Banding

Noun · Development

Definitions

  1. In gaming and real-time applications, the visible effect of network latency compensation — an object appears to jump back to a previous position when the server corrects the client's prediction. Named because the object seems to snap back like a rubber band. Also refers to game mechanics that artificially help losing players catch up.

    In plain English: When objects in a game or app snap back to a previous position because the server disagreed with what your screen showed.

    Example: "The player ran forward but rubber-banded back 10 feet — the server rejected the client's position prediction due to high latency."

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