$ping
Send ICMP ECHO_REQUEST to network hosts to test connectivity and latency.
ping [OPTIONS] DESTINATIONTry `ping` Live in Interactive Sandbox
Zero-install client simulation with real-time feedback.
Overview & How ping Works
`ping` is the fundamental network diagnostics tool used to verify whether a remote host or IP address is reachable across an IP network. It measures the round-trip time (RTT) for packets sent from the local machine to a destination and reports packet loss percentages.
Common Flags & Command Options
| Flag / Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -c [count] | Stop sending ECHO_REQUEST packets after count packets are sent. |
| -i [interval] | Wait interval seconds between sending each packet (default 1s). |
| -W [timeout] | Time to wait for a response in seconds before timing out. |
Practical Real-World Examples
ping -c 4 onlinelinuxterminal.comSends exactly 4 ICMP packets to test network latency and packet loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does ping run indefinitely on Linux?
By default, Linux `ping` continues until you interrupt it with `Ctrl + C`, or specify `-c [count]`.
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