Data latency

Data latency is the delay between a named starting point, such as a purchase occurring, and a named endpoint, such as availability for reporting. In GA4, processing, delayed receipt and offline transmission can cause information to arrive later or change after initial reporting.[1] Specify both timestamps and the unit: transport delay is not necessarily the same as delay until complete reporting.

A store could measure the time between order confirmation and visibility in an analysis. Keep that separate from data freshness: an infrequently updated source can deliver old information even when transmission is quick. Describe observed delays as measurements with stated coverage, not promised product performance. Google's documented typical processing times explicitly do not constitute a contractual guarantee.[1]