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Bufferbloat occurs when network equipment buffers too much data, adding delay rather than the smoothing effect buffering is meant to provide.
Why It Happens
Routers and modems buffer data to smooth out brief network hiccups, but an oversized buffer under sustained load can add seconds of delay rather than milliseconds.
How It Feels
A connection can show plenty of raw bandwidth in a speed test while still feeling laggy for real-time uses like video calls or gaming — bufferbloat is a common hidden cause.
Addressing It
Modern routers with "smart queue management" features specifically counter bufferbloat, prioritizing latency-sensitive traffic even under heavy load.
