The effects of packet loss:

• In data, packet loss produces errors.
• In videoconference environments it can create jitter.
• In pure audio communications, such as VoIP, it can cause jitter and frequent gaps in received speech.
• In the worst cases, packet loss can cause severe mutilation of received data, broken-up images, unintelligible speech or even the complete absence of a received signal.

The causes of packet loss include inadequate signal strength at the destination, natural or human-made interference, excessive system noise, hardware failure, software corruption or overburdened network nodes. Often more than one of these factors is involved.

In a case where the cause can not be remedied, packet loss concealment may be used to minimize the effects of lost packets.