What is the purpose of the tracert command in network diagnostics?

The tracert command is primarily used to trace the route that data packets take from the source computer to a specified destination across a network. When this command is executed, it sends out packets with progressively increasing Time To Live (TTL) values, which allows it to identify each hop along the path that the packets traverse. This is particularly useful for diagnosing network issues, as it highlights any points of latency or failure along the route.

By utilizing the tracert command, network administrators can gain insight into how data is routed, which can help in troubleshooting connectivity problems, identifying slow or unresponsive nodes, and understanding the overall path taken by network communications. This capability makes it an invaluable tool in the arsenal of network diagnostics.

While monitoring network traffic, identifying slow connections, and discovering network devices are important aspects of network management, they do not directly relate to the specific function that tracert serves in mapping the path of packets.