Google Cloud Digital Leader Practice Exam

What is the term for the amount of time it takes for data to travel from one point to another?

1. Throughput

2. Latency

3. Bandwidth

4. Transmission time

The correct answer is: Latency

The term that describes the amount of time it takes for data to travel from one point to another is latency. Latency measures the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer. It is often expressed in milliseconds and indicates how quickly a response can be received after a request is made, which is critical for applications requiring real-time communication or quick data retrieval. Throughput refers to the actual amount of data successfully transmitted over a network in a given time period, often measured in bits per second. Bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be transferred over a network path, indicating the capacity of the connection rather than the time it takes for data to move. Transmission time could be considered closely related but generally refers to the duration it takes to send a specific amount of data, while latency specifically focuses on the delay or waiting time before the data starts moving. Thus, latency is the most accurate term for the delay experienced in data transmission.