Traceroute Online

Trace hop-by-hop paths with protocol and TTL controls.

Hop map Latency hops Protocol choice

Path snapshot

Review each hop response time and ASN in a single table.

ICMP TCP UDP

What This Tool Does

This page maps the visible network path from the probing system to the target. The UI remains intact, but the added explanation makes clear that traceroute is an observation of one path from one source at one point in time.

Inputs explained

Enter a host or IP address, then choose the view options that fit your troubleshooting goal. The result is most useful when you already know the destination is relevant and you want to understand path behavior rather than just endpoint status.

How it works

The tool sends probes with incrementing hop limits and records which intermediate devices respond. Because routers can filter or rate limit these probes, the path may contain gaps even when end to end connectivity works.

Step-by-Step Example

Run traceroute to a known public host and review the hop list for large jumps in latency, path changes, or missing replies. Asterisks or gaps do not automatically prove an outage. They can simply indicate filtered or rate limited intermediate devices.

Use Cases

Use traceroute when latency changes suddenly, a region becomes unreachable, or you need evidence about which part of a path may be changing.

Assumptions and limitations

Traceroute, ping, and open port tests can all be affected by firewalls, routing policy, NAT, and rate limits. The output is an informational view of the path from one probe source, not a universal map of every route.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does traceroute show?

It shows the hop by hop path that packets appear to take from the probing system toward the target, along with timing for each visible step.

Why do some hops show no reply?

Routers can filter, rate limit, or deprioritize traceroute style probes, so a missing reply does not always indicate a broken path.

Can the path change between runs?

Yes. Routing policy, load balancing, congestion, and upstream changes can all alter the observed path or hop timings.

Does traceroute prove application problems?

No. It helps explain path behavior, but application issues can exist even when traceroute completes normally.

When is traceroute useful?

It is useful for diagnosing path changes, latency spikes, regional reachability issues, and transit troubleshooting.

What limitations apply to the output?

The output is informational and depends on firewalls, NAT, routing policy, and rate limits between the probe source and the destination.

Related Tools

Ping Test

Confirm basic reachability and latency before mapping the full path.

Open Port Checker

Check service exposure after you understand the path.

BGP Prefix Lookup

Add routing visibility context to observed path changes.