tracert

Tracert is a command line tool that is short for "Trace Route." It is commonly used in Windows operating systems to trace the path that data packets take from your computer to a destination host on a network. By sending out a series of ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) echo request messages, tracert identifies each hop or router between your computer and the destination.

Tracert provides information about the round-trip time taken by each hop, which is helpful in diagnosing latency issues. It also displays the IP address and DNS (Domain Name System) hostname of each hop, allowing you to identify network issues or the individual routers involved.

The output of tracert includes a list of hops, showing the number of the hop, the host name or IP address, and the round-trip time for each hop. It typically displays up to 30 hops, but this can be adjusted with the "-h" option.

Tracert is used for troubleshooting network connectivity problems, identifying bottlenecks, and understanding the routing path of your data packets. Administrators and network engineers often rely on tracert to gain insights into network performance and to assess the quality of service provided by internet service providers. Overall, tracert is a valuable command line tool for network diagnostics and optimization purposes.