What does latency refer to in a network?

Latency in a network is a critical measure of performance that specifically denotes the time delay experienced as data packets travel from the source to the destination. It is often measured in milliseconds (ms) and includes various factors such as the time taken to process the data at each point, the propagation delay as the data travels through the medium, and any queuing delays that might occur if packets are held in line to be sent over the network.

Understanding latency is essential for evaluating the responsiveness of a network, especially in applications where real-time data transfer is crucial, such as in online gaming, video conferencing, or VoIP services. Higher latency can lead to delays that can significantly affect user experience, while lower latency generally corresponds to a more efficient and faster network communication.

In contrast, the total data transfer rate refers to bandwidth and capacity, while the number of devices connected to a network and the stability of the network connection relate to network traffic and reliability, respectively. These aspects, while important to overall network performance, do not directly define latency.