What does latency refer to in a network?

Latency in a network refers specifically to the time delay experienced when data packets travel from the source to the destination. It represents the duration it takes for a packet of data to make the journey across the network, which can be influenced by various factors such as the physical distance between devices, the type of network medium used, and any additional processing or routing that may occur along the way.

High latency can result in noticeable delays when sending and receiving data, which can affect real-time applications like video conferencing, online gaming, or VoIP calls, where timely delivery of data is crucial. Understanding latency is important for troubleshooting network performance issues and ensuring a smooth user experience in any networked environment.

The other options address different aspects of networking. Speed of data processing pertains to how quickly a device can process information, while the amount of data that can be transmitted at once relates to bandwidth. Lastly, security focuses on the measures taken to protect the network from unauthorized access, which does not directly relate to latency.