Welcome to the Internet Knowledge Base, your comprehensive resource for mastering the digital highway. Understanding the technical nuances of your connection is the first step toward a faster, more stable web experience. Whether you are troubleshooting a slow WiFi test result, switching to fiber optic, or comparing 4G vs 5G mobile data, our glossary breaks down complex networking concepts into clear, actionable insights. Dive into our hub to decode the metrics that define your high-speed internet performance.
The Connectivity Hub: Key Terms Explained
IP Address
in the Internet Knowledge Base, the IP adress is your digital identity on the web. It allows servers to locate your device and deliver the data you requested during your wifi test.
Latency (Ping)
The reaction time of your connection. Lower latency means a more responsive experience, vital for gaming and high-speed interaction.
Fiber Optic
The gold standard for high speed internet. It uses pulses of light to transmit data at near-instantaneous speeds.
Bandwidth
The capacity of your connection. Think of it as a highway; more bandwidth means more data can travel simultaneously without slowing down.
Jitter
Jitter measures the variation in latency over time. A high jitter score causes “stuttering” during wifi test sessions and is the main enemy of smooth gaming and VoIP calls.
Mbps vs MBps
Don’t be confused! 1 Megabyte (MB) equals 8 Megabits (Mb). Internet providers always advertise internet speeds in Mbps, while file sizes are usually shown in MB.
ISP Throttling
This happens when your provider intentionally slows down your my internet speed based on your activity (like streaming). Use our tool to detect if your speed drops suddenly.
Packet Loss
When data “packets” fail to reach their destination. It results in broken audio or disappearing images. A perfect network speed test should show 0% packet loss.
DNS (Domain Name System)
The “phonebook” of the internet. A slow DNS provider can make your wifi speed test feel slow, even if your bandwidth is high, by increasing the time it takes to find websites.
Asymmetric Speeds
Most home connections are asymmetric, meaning your download speed is much faster than your upload. This is designed for typical usage like streaming and browsing.
Dual-Band WiFi
2.4GHz offers more range but slower speeds, while 5GHz is faster but has a shorter range. If your network speed test is low, try switching bands to avoid interference.
CGNAT
Many 4G and Fiber ISPs use CGNAT to share one public IP among many users. This can sometimes affect gaming stability or port forwarding during your internet speed checks.