What does high latency in a network typically indicate?

High latency in a network typically indicates the presence of potential delays in data transmission. Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination. When latency is high, it means that there are delays occurring, which can be caused by various factors such as network congestion, long distances between nodes, or inefficient routing. This can ultimately lead to slower communication and a lag in response times for applications relying on the network, impacting overall performance. In contexts such as online gaming, video conferencing, or real-time data transfer, high latency can significantly diminish the user experience due to noticeable lags. Understanding this concept is crucial for troubleshooting network performance issues and optimizing communication systems.