Time in System; Sojourn Time
Definition
The total time in the queueing system includes waiting and processing.
The time from arrival of a job until completion of its service; it includes waiting time and processing time.
Simply explained
To the waiting time of a task is added the actual working time until its completion.
Why it matters in practice
The term contributes to secure, maintainable, and high-performance web applications as well as resilient technical decisions.
Example from business
A support ticket waits two hours and is processed for half an hour; its total time in the system is two and a half hours.
Limits and pitfalls
- Mixing waiting, processing, and total time or inconsistently defining start, completion, and abort events.
Origin & history
Residence time is a central concept in queueing theory and should be distinguished from pure queueing delay or waiting time.
Use in mid-sized companies
- Possible application: In support, record waiting and processing times together to assess the total residence time of a ticket in the process.
Frequently asked questions
What does total time mean in a queueing system?
The time from the arrival of a job until the completion of its service; it includes waiting time and processing time. What mistakes should be avoided? Mixing waiting, processing, and total times or defining start, completion, and abandonment events inconsistently.
Sources
Source checked on 10.10.2026. Editorial application examples are hypothetical; no evidence of real customer results.
Editorially reviewed on: