What does the term 'latency' refer to in a networking context?

Latency in a networking context refers specifically to the time delay that occurs during data transmission. This measurement indicates how long it takes for a packet of data to travel from the source to the destination. High latency can negatively impact the performance of applications, especially those requiring real-time communication, such as voice calls or online gaming, resulting in an experience where the responsiveness feels sluggish or delayed.

Understanding latency is crucial for evaluating network performance and optimizing applications. It differs from data transfer speed, which measures how quickly data can be sent over a network, not including the delays that may occur. The amount of data transmitted relates to throughput, while bandwidth describes the maximum rate of data transfer across a network path, neither of which are synonymous with latency.