Latency is the delay between sending a request and receiving a response in a computer network or system, typically measured in milliseconds. It encompasses the time taken for data to travel from the source to the destination (propagation delay), the time needed to transmit the data across a link (transmission delay) and any waiting time in routers or switches (queuing delay). Low latency means that interactions such as loading a web page, playing an online game or conducting a video call feel instantaneous, while high latency leads to noticeable lag. Because it affects how quickly information moves, latency is a critical factor in real-time applications and services.
