What is the primary effect of network jitter on real-time communications?

The primary effect of network jitter on real-time communications is the variations in packet arrival times. Jitter refers to the inconsistent delays in packet delivery over a network, which can cause packets to arrive out of order, or in bursts rather than at a steady, predictable interval.

In real-time applications—like voice over IP (VoIP) or video conferencing—timely packet delivery is crucial for maintaining audio and video quality. When jitter occurs, it can lead to noticeable disruptions, such as choppy audio, delayed video, or overall poor communication quality, because these applications require a constant flow of data to function effectively.

Assessing the impact of jitter is vital for ensuring a satisfactory user experience in real-time communications, as these variations can disrupt the fluidity and continuity that users expect. This highlights the importance of network management techniques that can mitigate jitter to preserve the integrity of real-time data streams.