Which command determines the route data takes to reach a destination?

Which command determines the route data takes to reach a destination?

• A. tracert
• B. downdetector
• C. ping
• D. nslookup

Answer: (A)

To see how data travels to a destination, you use a route-tracing command that reveals the path packets take. Tracert (traceroute on Unix-like systems) sends probe packets with gradually increasing scope so that each router along the route replies, allowing you to map every hop and see the response times. This hop-by-hop view shows which devices your traffic traverses and where delays or failures occur, making it the right tool for identifying routing issues or congested segments. Other options don’t fit this purpose. Downdetector isn’t a networking command; it reports service outages. Ping checks whether a host is reachable and measures latency, but it does not show the route taken. Nslookup queries DNS records, not the path to a destination.

To see how data travels to a destination, you use a route-tracing command that reveals the path packets take. Tracert (traceroute on Unix-like systems) sends probe packets with gradually increasing scope so that each router along the route replies, allowing you to map every hop and see the response times. This hop-by-hop view shows which devices your traffic traverses and where delays or failures occur, making it the right tool for identifying routing issues or congested segments.

Other options don’t fit this purpose. Downdetector isn’t a networking command; it reports service outages. Ping checks whether a host is reachable and measures latency, but it does not show the route taken. Nslookup queries DNS records, not the path to a destination.