Editing Real-time computing (section)

== {{Anchor|Near real-time}}Near real-time ==
The term "near real-time" or "nearly real-time" (NRT), in [[telecommunications]] and [[computing]], refers to the time [[Network delay|delay]] introduced, by automated [[data processing]] or [[telecommunications network|network]] transmission, between the occurrence of an event and the use of the processed data, such as for display or [[feedback]] and control purposes. For example, a near-real-time display depicts an event or situation as it existed at the current time minus the processing time, as nearly the time of the live event.<ref name=1037C>{{cite web|url=http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/fs-1037/fs-1037c.htm |title=Federal Standard 1037C: Glossary of Telecommunications Terms |publisher=Its.bldrdoc.gov |access-date=2014-04-26}}</ref>

The distinction between the terms "near real time" and "real time" is somewhat nebulous and must be defined for the situation at hand. The term implies that there are no significant delays.<ref name=1037C /> In many cases, processing described as "real-time" would be more accurately described as "near real-time".

Near real-time also refers to delayed real-time transmission of voice and video. It allows playing video images, in approximately real-time, without having to wait for an entire large video file to download. Incompatible databases can export/import to common flat files that the other database can import/export on a scheduled basis so they can sync/share common data in "near real-time" with each other.