What distinguishes jitter from latency in network communications?

The choice correctly highlights that jitter refers to inconsistency in delay, while latency measures the total time taken for data to travel from the source to the destination.

In network communications, latency is a specific measurement of time, quantifying how long it takes for a data packet to traverse the network from the sender to the receiver. It encompasses the delay experienced during this journey, which can arise from various factors, including propagation delay, queuing, and processing times.

Jitter, on the other hand, is not about the total time taken but rather how much the delay varies over time. If packets arrive consistently at regular intervals, there is low jitter. However, if the intervals between packet arrivals fluctuate significantly, high jitter is observed. High jitter can lead to problems in applications like VoIP or video streaming, where consistent timing is crucial.

This distinction is vital as it informs network performance evaluations, helping network engineers and administrators address problems that could affect the quality of communications. Understanding these concepts is essential for effectively optimizing networks and ensuring smooth data transmission.