In the context of data communications, what does latency refer to?

Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from the source to its destination. This measurement is crucial in data communications because it directly affects the performance of applications and services that rely on timely data transmission. High latency can lead to noticeable delays when data is transferred, which can impact the quality of real-time applications such as VoIP calls, video streaming, and online gaming.

While other options touch upon important aspects of data transmission, they do not accurately define latency. The amount of data transmitted in a given time pertains to bandwidth, not latency. The number of errors encountered during transmission relates to the reliability of the data transfer but does not address how long it takes for the data to complete its journey. The distance data travels is a factor that can affect latency, but it does not equate to the concept itself, as latency also involves processing and queuing at various points in a network.