How Ping Works: A Detailed Guide with Python Implementation
Ping is a fundamental network diagnostic tool that tests connectivity and measures latency by sending ICMP Echo Request packets to a target host and awaiting Echo Reply responses.[1][2] This comprehensive guide dives deep into ping’s mechanics, packet structure, real-world applications, and how to implement it in Python for custom network testing. What is Ping and Why Does It Matter? Named after the sonar pulse echo, ping verifies if a host is reachable on an IP network and quantifies network performance through round-trip time (RTT).[2][4][5] It operates using the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), a core IP suite protocol for error reporting and diagnostics—not for data transfer.[1][3] ...