jitter

jitter

A flicker or fluctuation in a transmission signal or display image. The term is used in several ways, but it always refers to some offset of time and space from the norm. For example, in a network transmission, jitter would be a bit arriving either ahead or behind a standard clock cycle or, more generally, the variable arrival of packets. In computer graphics, to "jitter a pixel" means to place it off side of its normal placement by some random amount in order to achieve a more natural antialiasing effect.

---

jitter [′jid·ər]

(communications)

In facsimile, distortion in the received copy caused by momentary errors in synchronism between the scanner and recorder mechanisms; does not include slow errors in synchronism due to instability of the frequency standards used in the facsimile transmitter and recorder.

(electronics)

Small, rapid variations in a waveform due to mechanical vibrations, fluctuations in supply voltages, control-system instability, and other causes.

---

jitter - Random variation in the timing of a signal, especially a clock.