Which term describes the time it takes for a packet to move through a network?

The term that describes the time it takes for a packet to move through a network is latency. Latency refers to the delay that occurs in the network when a packet is sent from the source to the destination. This delay can be caused by various factors, including the time it takes for the packet to be processed by routers and switches, the distance the packet must travel, and any queuing that occurs in the network.

Understanding latency is crucial in networking because it impacts the performance of applications, especially those requiring real-time communication, such as video conferencing or online gaming. Low latency is desirable as it leads to a more responsive user experience.

While bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network in a given amount of time, and throughput denotes the actual amount of data successfully transmitted over the network, these terms focus more on capacity and efficiency rather than the time aspect. Propagation delay, on the other hand, is one specific component that can contribute to latency; it specifically refers to the time it takes for a signal to travel from the sender to the receiver, which is just one part of the overall latency in a network.