What does latency refer to in a computer network?

Latency in a computer network refers to the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination. This measurement is crucial in understanding the performance of a network; lower latency means that data is transmitted more quickly, leading to a more responsive experience for users, especially in applications like online gaming or video conferencing where real-time communication is vital.

Latency can be affected by various factors, including the physical distance between the source and destination, the type of transmission medium (such as fiber optics or copper cabling), and the amount of traffic on the network. Understanding latency helps in optimizing network configurations and improving overall user experience.

In this context, the other choices do not accurately describe latency. The set of rules for data transmission refers more to network protocols; the amount of data transmitted at a time pertains to bandwidth rather than latency, and monitoring of network traffic involves analyzing the flow of data rather than measuring the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another.