How is 'latency' defined in networking terms?

Latency in networking refers to the delay in data transmission. This encompasses the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination, which includes various factors such as propagation delays, processing times in routers, and queuing delays. High latency can result in noticeable delays in application performance, particularly for real-time services like VoIP and online gaming, where timely delivery of data is crucial.

While the other options touch on various important aspects of networking, they do not accurately capture the concept of latency. Data loss pertains to packet loss rather than delay. The speed of data encryption is related to security processes, not directly to latency, while frequency of data packets is a measure related to the number of transmitted packets over time rather than the timing or delay involved in their transmission. Thus, defining latency as the delay in data transmission accurately encapsulates its essence in networking.