DNS Records and Worldwide DNS Propagation Checker

Traceroute Online

Use our tool to perform traceroute tests online. Input a domain or IP to know the full path the network packets take from the tool’s server to the target.

Use any IP / Domain or Your IP

Traceroute Testing Tool

Our traceroute testing tool allows you to perform a traceroute test quickly. Use it to find out how your internet connection reaches a specific server or website. To perform a traceroute test, simply provide the tool with an IP address or a domain. 

When you provide our traceroute testing tool with an input, it maps the exact path. The path that your data packets take from one point to another, showing each hop along the way. With our tool, you can easily detect where delays or interruptions occur in the network. 

Why Should You Traceroute or Tracert Test?

The main reason for performing a traceroute or tracert command test is to understand how your data travels across the Internet. Networking experts use it for many other purposes, such as:

  • To detect which part of the route is causing slow response times or packet loss.
  • See the exact route your internet traffic takes to reach a website or server.
  • Pinpoint where a network connection exactly drops. 
  • Verify if the data is following the most efficient path or being misrouted.
  • Test from different locations to compare routing performance across regions.

How to Run a Traceroute Test?

Two methods are commonly used to run a traceroute test. One is using our tool to traceroute online. Alternatively, you can run a tracert command manually (varies with operating system). Here are the steps for each:

Using Our Tracert Tool

Using our tracert tool is the quickest way to perform a traceroute test online. Here are the steps for using our tool. 

  1. Visit our traceroute tool
  2. Enter the IP address or a domain name inside the provided field. Regarding the IP address, find yours using our IP address checker or click the “Your IP” button just below the input field. The tool will automatically fetch your IP address. 
  3. Press “Enter” or click on the “Traceroute” button below the input field. 

Once done, the tool will instantly display the traceroute results for you. 

Using the Tracert Command (Windows, Mac, Linux)

You can also perform the traceroute test by manually running the tracert command inside the command prompt of your device's operating system. The procedure varies with the operating system of your device. 

For Mac or Linux System

Follow the steps below to use the tracert command on a Mac or Linux system. 

  • Open up an instance of Terminal. 
  • Type in the “traceroute [hostname]” and press enter.

For Tracerouting on Windows

To run a traceroute test on Windows: 

  • Go to the Start menu and Select Run.
  • Type in “cmd” and then hit “OK.” This initiates a command prompt, or you can access it directly.
  • Type in “tracert [hostname]” and press Enter.

Note: The term “hostname” is a domain, website address, or IP address of a server, router, or device you want to trace.

Traceroute Results You Get from Our Tool

Upon the request to measure an IP path, our Traceroute tool returns the following results.

Hop Number

Position of the router in the network path between the source and destination.

Host/IP Address

Hostname or IP address of the router that responded at that hop.

Loss%

Percentage of packets that did not receive a response from that hop. 

Snt

Number of probe packets sent to the hop.

Last

Response time of the most recent packet sent to the hop, measured in milliseconds (ms).

Avg

Average response time across all packets sent to the hop.

Best

Fastest response time recorded for the hop.

Wrst

Slowest response time recorded for the hop.

StDev

Variation in response times.

How Does Our Traceroute Tool Work?

When you run a domain or IP address through our traceroute tool, it immediately starts the traceroute test that goes on like:

  1. The tool sends small data packets from its server to the destination domain or IP address you entered.
  2. These packets travel through multiple routers, with each one acting as a “hop” along the path to the destination.
  3. At every hop, the tool measures how long it takes for the packet to move from one point to the next.
  4. Each router that handles the packet is recorded and displayed in the results as a separate hop.
  5. If a router doesn’t respond (due to firewall rules or security filters), that hop may show a “timeout”. However, the test continues to trace the remaining path.
  6. The tool lists all hops with their response times, providing a clear view of how your data travels and where delays might occur.

Why Use DNSChecker’s Traceroute Tool?

Our traceroute tool by DNSChecker offers a set of valuable features, making it a worthwhile asset for your use. Here are some of the key features that make our tool the first choice for the online tracert command. 

Eliminates the Need for Command Line

You don’t need to be a networking expert or use complicated system commands to run a traceroute. With our tool, you can perform the same test instantly from your web browser just by entering an IP or a domain. 

Fast and Accurate Hop Detection

At DNSChecker, we built this tool to deliver results quickly and precisely. It captures each hop that your data passes through, along with accurate response times. 

Easy-to-Read Results

Traceroute results are presented in a clear, terminal-style format that’s simple to follow. Each hop is displayed in a numbered list along with key details such as the: 

  • IP address or hostname
  • packet loss percentage
  • Number of packets sent
  • Response time statistics (last, average, best, worst, and standard deviation)

Free and Accessible to Everyone

Our tracert tool is completely free to use and doesn’t require registration. It is designed for everyone. Anyone from beginners checking their internet routes to IT professionals troubleshooting complex network issues can use it easily.

What Techniques are Used to Measure the IP Path?

An IP route, or IP path, is the sequence in which data packets travel across network devices, such as routers and switches, from the source to their final destination. 

You can use various techniques to measure the IP path. Here are the ones that are commonly used by networking professionals. 

1. Traceroute

Traceroute is the most common technique used for measuring the IP path. 

In this technique, packets are sent with increasing TTL values. Each router the packets pass through in the path returns an ICMP message when the TTL expires. 

During this, the traceroute tool records every hop between the source and destination and shows resutls. 

2. Ping

IP Ping is another technique that can be used to measure the IP path. It does not give you the full path but helps you measure round-trip time (latency) and packet loss. 

3. MTR

MTR, also called my traceroute, is a technique that combines both ping and traceroute. In MTR, each hop is checked continuously, measures latency, and packet loss per hop. It provides you with a more detailed view of network performance. 

4. PathPing

This is a common method used to measure the IP path on Windows OS. It also combines Ping and Traceroute and measures packet loss at each hop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Traceroute?

A traceroute, also called tracert, is a network testing term that shows a network connection's real-time path a packet takes to reach a network resource. It examines the hops that communication will follow across the IP network.

How can I tell where network delays are happening in a traceroute?

Look for hops with noticeably higher latency (ms) than the previous ones. This is usually where delays likely start. Also, repeated packet loss at a specific hop can indicate network congestion or instability at that point.

Why do some hops show * or timeout?

It usually means that the router in the path is configured not to respond to the ping coming for diagnostics. This can also happen due to a broken connection. However, it does not always mean that the connection is not working. Sometimes, a timeout occurs due to firewall settings and security rules. 

Why is one hop showing high latency, but later hops are normal?

This often happens when a router gives lower priority to traceroute requests. The router may take longer to reply to the test packets while still forwarding regular traffic normally.

Why does traceroute stop before reaching the destination?

Traceroute may stop before reaching the destination if a firewall, router, or security system blocks traceroute requests. This does not always mean the destination is offline or unreachable.