What is a common functionality of the ping command in Windows?

The ping command is primarily used to verify connectivity to a specified IP address. When you execute the ping command followed by an IP address or a hostname, your system sends Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request messages to the target address. If the target is reachable and responsive, it will reply with ICMP Echo Reply messages. This process helps determine whether the host is accessible across the network and measures the round-trip time for messages sent from the originating host to the destination.

This core functionality makes ping an essential tool for troubleshooting network connections. It can help identify issues such as network disconnections, high latency, or routing problems, by confirming whether a specific device is alive and reachable.

Other options, such as checking DNS configurations, displaying routing tables, or capturing network packets, involve different commands and utilities that serve distinct purposes in network management and analysis. Therefore, the core function of verifying connectivity makes the ping command a foundational tool in network diagnostics.