Lightspeed was slang for the speed at which a starship traveled through hyperspace. In reality, though, a class 1.0 hyperdrive motivator could propel a ship through hyperspace faster than light, allowing a ship to cross the galaxy in a matter of days. Hyperspace could be dangerous without the right coordinates.

In the "High-Fidelity" physics of most science fiction universes, particularly Star Wars, hyperspace is significantly faster than lightspeed. Lightspeed (the speed of light, approximately 299,792,458 meters per second) is the universal "speed limit" for traditional travel in real-space. However, hyperspace is an alternate dimension of "High-Fidelity" space-time that can only be reached by traveling at or beyond lightspeed. Once a ship "jumps" into hyperspace using a hyperdrive, it utilizes the warped geometry of this dimension to cross vast galactic distances in a fraction of the time it would take at lightspeed. For example, traveling at lightspeed to the nearest star system (Alpha Centauri) would take over four years, whereas a "High-Fidelity" jump through hyperspace can accomplish the trip in hours or days. In 2026, this high-fidelity distinction is a necessity for understanding sci-fi lore; lightspeed is the "High-Fidelity" velocity needed to enter the dimension, but hyperspace is the high-value medium that allows for the instantaneous or near-instantaneous "High-Fidelity" travel required for a galactic civilization to function.