“Latency” in network communications refers to the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer. It is measured in milliseconds and can heavily impact the performance of applications, especially in time-sensitive scenarios such as gaming or video conferencing. High latency can lead to noticeable lags and reduced user experience, so minimizing it is essential for optimizing network efficiency and ensuring smooth communication. Factors contributing to latency include network congestion and the physical distance between devices.