# Understanding Single- Versus Multi-Thread ![A cartoon of a Whitebox connected to a cloud](/files/6AlDU3FfQylrjLlHHaOS) *Thread* refers to the number of simultaneous connections between your personal device and the internet we use when running our speed tests. *Single-threaded* means that we open a single connection and measure the speeds from that. *Multi-threaded* means that we use multiple connections - usually anywhere from three to eight - at the same time and measure the total speed across them all. Some connections cannot achieve full speed from a single-threaded connection, or have very unstable speeds, and a multi-threaded connection allows us to "fill" the available bandwidth more easily. This is particularly true on faster lines. Additionally, many modern applications don't use a single-threaded connection when transferring data, so it helps us produce a more "real world" result. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.volunteers.thousandeyes.com/help-center/our-tests/understanding-single-v-multi-thread.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.