response time

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.