Choose a Measurement
Select a measurement and convert between different units
Single conversion
To convert from Nanosecond (ns) to Millisecond (ms), use the following formula:
Let's convert 5 Nanosecond (ns) to Millisecond (ms).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Nanosecond (ns) is equal to Millisecond (ms).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Nanosecond (ns) to Millisecond (ms):
| Nanoseconds | Milliseconds |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 ns | ms |
| 0.001 ns | ms |
| 0.1 ns | ms |
| 1 ns | ms |
| 2 ns | ms |
| 3 ns | ms |
| 4 ns | ms |
| 5 ns | ms |
| 6 ns | ms |
| 7 ns | ms |
| 8 ns | ms |
| 9 ns | ms |
| 10 ns | ms |
| 20 ns | ms |
| 30 ns | ms |
| 40 ns | ms |
| 50 ns | ms |
| 100 ns | ms |
| 1000 ns | ms |
| 10000 ns | ms |
A nanosecond (ns) is a tiny unit of time, equal to one billionth of a second (10-9 s).
Though incredibly fast, this measurement is fundamental to all modern technology, from smartphones to supercomputers.
In a single nanosecond, light travels roughly 30 centimeters (about one foot). This incredible speed imposes a fundamental physical limit on the design of supercomputers and other high-speed electronics.
The time it takes for signals to travel between processor components, known as signal propagation delay, becomes a critical performance bottleneck, as even short distances introduce significant delays measured in nanoseconds.
Nanoseconds are the standard unit of measurement for computer speed.
For example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) with a 3 GHz clock speed performs one cycle in just one-third of a nanosecond (0.33 ns). Likewise, your computer's memory (RAM) access time is measured in a few nanoseconds. These incredibly short timeframes demonstrate why minimizing delays, or latency, is crucial for achieving fast performance.
Computer pioneer Grace Hopper gave a famous lesson on processing speed using a simple prop: the "nanosecond wire."
Each 11.8-inch wire represented the distance light travels in one nanosecond. This tangible demonstration powerfully illustrated for engineers and executives the physical, unchangeable limits of computation and data transmission.
A millisecond is a tiny unit of time equal to one-thousandth of a second. To put that in perspective, a single blink of an eye takes about 300 to 400 milliseconds. Often abbreviated as ms, it's a standard unit of measurement essential for understanding speed in technology, biology, and our everyday digital lives.
Our brains are incredibly fast, processing an entire image in just 13 milliseconds.
This incredible speed allows for the smooth motion of still images in movies. For example, most movies are shot at 24 frames per second, with each frame appearing for about 42 milliseconds. Millisecond processing is essential to our interaction with the world around us.
Every millisecond matters online. Tiny delays we barely notice can still hurt performance, annoy users, and cost real money. A few examples:
The human nervous system is a remarkable network that sends messages in just milliseconds. A nerve impulse, also known as an action potential, lasts for only 1 to 2 milliseconds.
In that tiny fraction of time, an electrical signal travels down a neuron, allowing your brain to send commands to the rest of your body almost instantly. This is what will enable us to think, move, and feel in real-time.