Definition ∞ Oracle Latency measures the time delay between an external data event occurring in the real world and that information being made available and verifiable on a blockchain by an oracle service. A lower latency value signifies faster and more responsive data delivery to smart contracts. It is a critical performance indicator.
Context ∞ Oracle latency is a crucial performance metric for decentralized applications, particularly those requiring real-time data for operations like high-frequency DeFi trading or dynamic lending protocols. Reducing this delay is a constant objective for oracle providers aiming to enhance the responsiveness and reliability of smart contracts. News often reports on innovations that aim to minimize this delay for critical applications.