access time

noun, Computers.
1.
the elapsed time from the instant that information is called from a storage unit to the instant it is received.
2.
the elapsed time from the instant that information is ready for storage to the instant it is stored.
Compare word time.
Origin
1945-50
British Dictionary definitions for access time

access time

noun
1.
(computing) the time required to retrieve a piece of stored information
access time in Technology

hardware, storage
The average time interval between a storage peripheral (usually a disk drive or semiconductor memory) receiving a request to read or write a certain location and returning the value read or completing the write.
(1997-06-14)