What does the term 'latency' refer to in a network context?

The term 'latency' in a network context refers to the time delay between a request sent over the network and the receipt of the corresponding data. This includes the time it takes for the request to travel to the destination server and for that server to respond back with the data. Understanding latency is crucial for network performance, as lower latency times lead to quicker response experiences for users, particularly in applications like online gaming, video conferencing, or any real-time online interactions. High latency can result in noticeable delays, which can adversely affect the user experience.

The other options refer to different aspects of network performance, such as overall data transferred, data processing speed, and network capacity, but they do not specifically define latency.