Traceroute Testing Tool
Traceroute online is a network diagnostic tool that traces the whole network path taken to reach a destination. It runs a traceroute test for an IP address or domain and shows every network hop that responds to traceroute probes, along with response time, packet loss, and routing details.
Each hop represents a router or network device along the path, while response times help identify latency and network delays. This can help you troubleshoot connectivity issues and identify where delays or interruptions occur.
How to Traceroute Online?
Our tool makes it easy to run a traceroute online without needing a command-line tool. Follow these steps to run the traceroute test.
- Enter a domain name or public IPv4/IPv6 address in the input field.
- Click the ‘Check’ button and wait for results.
- The tool will run the traceroute test and display the responding network hops.
- Review each network hop along with its response time and other details.
Online Traceroute Results
When you run an online traceroute test, you will see two tables in the results. In the first table, you will see information about every hop. The second table shows the performance metrics of each hop.
Hop Number
The hop number shows the order of each router between your device and the destination. Hop 1 is the first router, and the last hop is the destination or the router closest to it.
Hostname
The hostname is the name assigned to a router or network device. Some routers do not share this information, so you may see N/A.
IP Address & ASN
This is the IP address of the router that handled your request at that hop. The ASN (Autonomous System Number) identifies the
Autonomous System associated with the hop's IP address.
It can help identify the network operator or organization responsible for that network. It may correspond to an internet service provider, hosting provider, cloud provider, university, enterprise, or other network organization.
Network & Country
This column shows the IP network or subnet that contains the router. The country is derived from IP geolocation data and represents an estimated geographic association, not the router's exact physical location.
Average Response Time
The average response time shows how long a router takes to reply. Lower response times generally indicate lower latency between the traceroute source and that hop.
However, a higher response time at one intermediate hop does not necessarily indicate a network problem if later hops return to lower response times.
Packet Loss
Packet loss shows the percentage of test packets that did not receive a reply. A small amount of packet loss at one hop is often normal. This is because some routers limit traceroute requests. If packet loss continues through the remaining hops, there might be a network problem.
Last, Best, Worst, and Standard Deviation
These values help you understand the quality of the connection.
- Last shows the response time of the most recent packet.
- Best shows the fastest response.
- Worst shows the slowest response.
- Standard Deviation (StDev) shows how much the response time changes. Lower values usually mean more consistent response times during the test.
What is a Traceroute?
Traceroute is a network diagnostic utility that identifies the intermediate hops between a source and a destination. The path includes several network devices or routers, and each router is called a hop.
In this test, small packets of data are sent towards the destination with gradually increasing Time to Live (TTL) values. Each router reduces the TTL by one before forwarding the packet. When the TTL reaches zero, the router typically discards the packet and sends an ICMP Time Exceeded message back to the traceroute source.
As the packets move from one router to another, every hop is recorded. This helps you see the complete route to the destination. It makes it easy to spot where delays or connection issues are occurring.
When Should You Run a Traceroute Test?
An online traceroute test can be useful when troubleshooting or investigating network connectivity. You may want to run a traceroute when:
- You want to find where delays occur.
- A website or server is unreachable.
- A website loads slowly.
- Online games have high latency.
- Your internet connection becomes unstable.
- You want to investigate an unusual routing path.
- You need to analyze the route between your network and a server.
Traceroute is particularly useful alongside a ping test because ping measures round-trip time and packet loss between the source and destination, while traceroute helps identify the intermediate hops along the route.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Traceroute the same as Ping?
No, traceroute and ping are two different network diagnostic tools. Ping IP is used for checking whether the network destination is live and responding. A traceroute test shows every network hop that data packets pass through between a device and its destination.
What is a Hop in Traceroute?
A hop is a router or other network device that forwards your data toward its destination, such as a website or IP address. Each responding device identified along the entire route is shown as a separate hop in the traceroute results.
Does Traceroute Tool Show the Exact Physical Location of Routers?
No, the traceroute tool does not determine the exact physical location of a router. The country shown in the results is based on IP geolocation data, which provides an estimated location. It does not represent the router’s exact physical location.
Can I Trace the Network Path for a Private IP Address?
You cannot traceroute a private IP address online. You can trace a private IP address if you are on the same network using the tracert command. However, if you are outside the network, even the traceroute command will not work.
How to Traceroute a Private IP Address?
You can traceroute a private IP address only if your device can reach the same private network. For example, you must be connected to the same LAN or connected through a VPN.
On Windows, run the following tracert command inside the command prompt:
- tracert <private-IP>
On Linux and macOS, open the terminal and run the following traceroute command:
- traceroute <private-IP>
If the trace fails, check that the device is online and that your network or firewall is not blocking the request.