To run the test, you'll be connected to Measurement Lab (M-Lab) and your IP address will be shared with them and processed by them in accordance with their privacy policy. M-Lab conducts the test and publicly publishes all test results to promote Internet research. Published information includes your IP address and test results, but doesn’t include any other information about you as an Internet user.
Just about everything. Streaming TV, browsing social media, connecting Wi-Fi security cameras and reading the news online are just a few examples of downloading data over the internet. Even when you're streaming TV or music, you are downloading information though no files are stored to your hard drive like they would be if you downloaded a song versus streaming it.
Download speeds test determine how fast information can travel from the internet to your home. Whether you’re pulling up a website, watching Netflix, or updating your OS, all that information is coming from a server somewhere and travelling across your connection into your house. For most every activity you do on the internet, download speed is going to be the most important factor.
Download speed is also referred to as bandwidth, or the amount of data transmitted over a connection over a certain amount of time. You can think of downloading data like filling a swimming pool with a hose. A bigger hose allows more water to flow through it, and the pool fills more quickly. Likewise, a connection with more bandwidth will download files much more quickly.
Most of the time when people talk about internet speed, they’re talking about download speed or bandwidth. This is also the speed that providers generally refer to with their advertised speeds.
The FCC says the best ISPs for two or more connected devices and moderate to heavy internet use should offer at least 12 megabits per second (Mbps) of download speed. For four or more devices, 25 Mbps is recommended.
If your speed score is low — below 100 Mbps — this could be an indication that the internet may be the problem. Keep in mind that your speeds vary depending on the number of users that are on your network at a time.
Download speeds of 10 Mbps per person are for basic tasks like web surfing and email. However, bandwidth-intensive activities like video streaming (Netflix, etc.) and online gaming require 25 Mbps or higher for optimal performance.
Let's start with the basics of how your internet connection works. All internet activity involves passing data through your modem or ONT if you're on a fiber connection. When you receive data -- watching a TV stream, viewing a webpage, scrolling through your social media feed, etc. -- you are downloading from the internet. When you send data -- your face and voice via a video call, for example -- you are uploading to the internet.
Upload and download speed test determine how quickly you can perform such tasks and how many devices can reasonably use the internet at once.
Download speed tests indicate your ability to download data, and upload speeds do the same for uploading data. Both speeds are commonly advertised and tested in Mbps, or megabits per second. The higher your Mbps, the faster your connection.