Mapping the Path With Traceroute

Traceroute (tracert on Windows) reveals the path packets take to a destination, listing each router (hop) along the way and the delay at each. Where ping answers "can I reach it?", traceroute answers "by what path, and where does it slow down or stop?" It is the go-to tool for locating where along a route a problem lives.

Each device that forwards your packet toward the destination is a hop. Traceroute lists hops in order, from your gateway outward across ISPs to the target. By showing the chain of routers, traceroute lets you see the actual journey of your traffic and pinpoint exactly which hop is failing or adding delay.