Response time

In telecommunication, response time is the time a system or functional unit takes to react to a given input.

Note: For example, in data processing, the response time perceived by the end user is the interval between

(a) the instant at which an operator at a terminal enters a request for a response from a computer and

(b) the instant at which the first character of the response is received at a terminal.

In a data system, the system response time is the interval between the receipt of the end of transmission of an inquiry message and the beginning of the transmission of a response message to the station originating the inquiry.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188