Trace Route

Trace Route works by sending data packets from your computer to a destination server and recording their response times and route. It then analyzes this data to determine which network devices and routers the packets pass through, as well as their response times.

A trace route can reveal the number of hops (network devices and routers) between your computer and a destination server, the IP addresses of the hops, the latency or response time of each hop, and the names of the routers and network providers.

Trace Route can be used to improve network security by identifying potential network vulnerabilities and attack vectors. Security professionals can analyze security configurations and identify potential weaknesses by identifying the routers and network devices that network packets pass through.

Some Trace Route limitations include the possibility of incomplete data due to network congestion or firewall blocking, as well as the route's ability to change dynamically based on network conditions.

The primary difference between ping and trace route is that while ping simply tells you if a server is reachable and the time it takes to transmit and receive data, traceroute details the precise route info, router by router, as well as the time it took for each hop.