Overview
Packet loss can be caused by network congestion, faulty hardware, signal interference (in wireless), or intentional dropping by QoS policies (policing).
Effects
- TCP: Detects loss and triggers retransmission, which slows down the overall transfer speed.
- UDP: Does not retransmit, leading to gaps in audio/video or glitches in online games.
Measurement
Usually expressed as a percentage of total packets sent.