inter-packet gap


inter-packet gap

(networking)A time delay between successive data packetsmandated by the network standard for protocol reasons.

In Ethernet, the medium has to be "silent" (i.e., no datatransfer) for a few microseconds before a node can considerthe network idle and start to transmit. This is necessary forfairness reasons. The delay time, which approximately equalsthe signal propagation time on the cable, allows the "silence"to reach the far end so that all nodes consider the net idle.