Nanoseconds (ns)

Time

1×10⁻⁹ s

The nanosecond, symbol ns, is an SI unit of time equal to one billionth of a second. It measures extremely short temporal durations, such as light travel times across small distances—light travels roughly 30 centimeters in one nanosecond in a vacuum. Defined strictly through the SI prefix system relative to the atomic second, nanoseconds are essential in modern electronics, microprocessor clock cycle measurements, quantum physics, and fiber-optic network timing.