How to Use the Traceroute Command

The traceroute command is a network diagnostic tool used to trace the route that packets take from your computer to a destination IP address or domain name. It shows the IP addresses of the routers (hops) that the packets traverse along the way. Here’s how you can use the traceroute command:

1. Open a terminal or command prompt:

   • On Windows: Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
   • On macOS or Linux: Open the Terminal application.

2. Run the traceroute command followed by the destination IP address or domain name:

   traceroute {{IP address or domain name}}
   

   For example, to trace the route to example.com, you would run:

   traceroute example.com
   

3. Review the output:
   The traceroute command will display the IP addresses of the routers (hops) that the packets take from your computer to the destination. It also shows the round-trip time (RTT) for each hop, indicating the time it takes for the packets to reach each router.

   The output typically includes information such as the hop number, IP address, and RTT for each hop. It helps identify any network latency or routing issues along the path to the destination.

Note that the traceroute command may have slightly different behavior or options depending on the operating system you are using. It is a useful tool for diagnosing network connectivity issues and understanding the network path to a destination. You can refer to the documentation or the traceroute manual page for more information specific to your operating system.