What does latency refer to in network terms?

Latency in network terms specifically refers to the delay experienced between a user's request and the server's response. It is a critical factor in determining the responsiveness of a network. When a user sends a request, latency measures the time taken for that request to travel to the server and for the server to send back a response. This delay can be influenced by various factors such as distance, congestion, and the efficiency of the routing protocols in use.

Understanding latency is essential for evaluating the performance of a network. High latency can lead to noticeable delays in application performance, affecting user experience, especially in real-time applications such as video conferencing, online gaming, and VoIP.

The other options reflect different aspects of network performance but do not accurately define latency. The speed of the internet connection refers to the maximum data transfer rate, while uploading data describes a specific action rather than the delay in receiving a response. Bandwidth pertains to the capacity of the network to handle data, rather than the time taken for a request to be acknowledged and processed.