HT Games
Ping
By itself, ping refers to a simple network tool common to all operating systems. When one computer pings another, it sends a small packet of data over the network with instructions to the other computer to return the ping in kind. This determines two things: whether the destination computer is reachable over the network at all and how quickly a message can be sent and returned -- how fast the connection between the two computers is.
Ping Speed
The ping speed between two computers is the amount of time that elapses between the sending computer dispatching a ping message and its receiving an acknowledgment. Ping speed is usually measured in milliseconds, as pings of more than 1 second are comparatively high.
Ping in Gaming
In online gaming, where data are constantly being exchanged between various players' computers and a central server computer -- and where the ability to exchange these data quickly is key to being able to play effectively and competitively -- ping is used to refer to the speed of a player's connection to the server. If a player has a low or fast ping, the game responds quickly to his commands, and he doesn't experience lag -- an annoying and potentially crippling gap between his input and the game's response.
Optimizing Ping
Ping is fastest over local networks and is often unpredictable over larger remote networks like the Internet itself. Gamers who want to ensure high ping times must use good equipment, obtain a powerful connection from their Internet service provider and ensure that as few programs as possible are transferring network data at the same time as the game.