What Is Upload Speed & Download Speed?
Essentially, there is no difference between an upload and download speed, except the direction of the transfer. Depending on the type of Internet connection your computer has, upload and download speed will differ. In other words, the faster your Internet connection or bandwidth, the faster your capacity to upload and download.
Other People Are Reading
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Uploading
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Uploading involves sending a copy of a file from a computer to a remote network connection; for instance, Web developers and publishers upload files to their Web server to make them available for other people to access.
Downloading
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Downloading involves the reception of a file that has been uploaded to a remote network. Often this refers to a person copying a file from a remote network to her personal computer; for example, people download music from iTunes after they make a purchase.
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Determining Your Speed
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To determine how fast your downloading and uploading capacity is, take a free upload and download speed test. Many websites offer such free services, including Speedtest.net, PC Pitstop and Speakeasy.
How Speed Tests Work
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Internet speed tests choose a server that is closest to you to reduce uncertainty about the information acquired. Small packets of data are then transferred to your computer (to test download speed) and then transferred back to the server (to test upload speed). How fast the information travels between your computer and the server you're connected to determines your speed, which is calculated at megabytes per second or kilobytes per second depending on the speed test.
Why Upload and Download Speeds Differ
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Upload speed is usually slower than download speed because Internet providers have designed their systems to optimize download speeds. This is because most Internet users spend more time downloading than uploading. In other words, Internet providers give priority to downloading since it's more frequently done than uploading.
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References
Resources
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