netstat:tldr:7ce08

The "netstat -an" command is used to display the active network connections and listening ports on a computer. Here is a breakdown of the command's components:

• "netstat" is short for "network statistics" and is a command-line tool available on most operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, used for monitoring network connections.

• "-a" is an option that stands for "all" or "display all connections". It instructs netstat to show both listening and non-listening (established) connections.

• "-n" is another option that stands for "numeric" and is used to display addresses and port numbers in numerical form rather than resolving them to their symbolic names. This can help in providing a quicker output as it avoids the need for DNS resolution.

Together, when you execute "netstat -an", the command will show a list of all active network connections, including both TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) connections, along with the corresponding IP addresses and port numbers. It can provide useful information for troubleshooting network issues, monitoring network activities, and identifying any potential security risks.