What does Latency measure?

Latency specifically measures the delay in response that occurs when data is transmitted across a network. It refers to the time taken for a request to travel from the client to the server and for the server's response to return to the client. This delay can significantly affect the performance of web applications, as higher latency can result in slower responses and can adversely impact user experience.

Understanding latency is crucial for web development and network management, particularly when optimizing applications for speed and responsiveness. Lower latency is typically desirable, as it means that users can interact with the application more quickly, resulting in a smoother experience.

The other choices do not accurately capture the definition of latency. For instance, measuring the amount of data processed focuses on throughput rather than delay. The speed of internet connections does relate to performance metrics but does not specifically measure response time. Similarly, the amount of information stored on a server pertains to storage capacity rather than latency.