What does "latency" refer to in networking?

Latency in networking specifically refers to the time delay experienced in the communication between devices over a network. It measures how long it takes for a packet of data to travel from the source to the destination. A lower latency indicates a faster response time, which is particularly important for applications requiring real-time interaction, such as online gaming or video conferencing.

Understanding latency is crucial for network performance, as high latency can lead to noticeable delays and a decrease in the overall user experience. It is often measured in milliseconds (ms) and can be affected by various factors, including the distance data must travel, routing methods, and the number of devices that the data must pass through before reaching its destination.

In contrast, the other options describe different aspects of network performance or capacity: the total data transferred in a second relates to bandwidth, the maximum capacity of a network connection refers to throughput, and the physical distance of the transmission medium impacts latency but is not a direct measure of it.