IT Technical Interview Practice Test 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Ping is used to check connectivity between two network points. It works by sending ICMP echo request packets to a target and waiting for echo replies, which quickly shows whether the host is reachable and provides a sense of round-trip time and any packet loss. This makes it ideal for verifying basic reachability and measuring latency. It’s not intended for transferring files, resolving domain names, or rebooting devices—those tasks are handled by other tools and protocols. Keep in mind that some networks block ICMP, so a lack of response doesn’t always mean the host is unreachable.