An internet speed test is a tool used to measure the efficiency and quality of your internet connection. It primarily checks three key performance indicators: download speed, upload speed, and latency. The download speed measures how quickly your internet connection can retrieve data from the server to your device, which affects how fast webpages load and files download. Upload speed determines the speed at which data is sent from your device to the internet, impacting how quickly you can send emails or post photos online. Latency, often referred to as ping, measures the time it takes for data to travel to the server and back, crucial for activities requiring real-time responses, like online gaming. These tests work by sending a small file from the testing server to the user's computer to analyze how quickly it is downloaded and uploaded, providing a snapshot of the internet connection's performance at that specific time.