What does "latency" refer to in networking?

Latency in networking specifically refers to the delay experienced in the travel time of data packets from the source to the destination. This delay can result from various factors including the physical distance the signals must travel, the processing time at network devices (like routers and switches), and the number of hops the data must make before reaching its final destination. High latency can significantly affect network performance, leading to delayed responses in tasks such as online gaming and video streaming, where real-time data exchange is critical.

The other options describe different networking concepts: the first option addresses bandwidth, which relates to the amount of data transmitted in a given timeframe; the third one speaks to error rates, indicating the reliability of a network connection; and the fourth option pertains to server performance metrics, which discuss how often server requests are made rather than the time it takes for data to travel. Each of these plays a role in network assessment but does not capture the specific essence of latency as a time-related delay.