Data Sampling Frequency

Definition

Data sampling frequency refers to the temporal resolution at which market observations, such as trade executions or quote updates, are captured and recorded within a quantitative trading system. Selecting an appropriate interval is critical because it dictates the granularity of the underlying price discovery process and directly influences the fidelity of derived financial models. Analysts must balance the need for high-resolution data against the computational overhead and the introduction of microstructure noise that occurs at extremely high ticks.