Traceroute Explainer
Paste traceroute (macOS/Linux) or tracert (Windows) output to decode every hop with plain-English annotations.
100% client-side · no upload
| Hop | Host / IP | Avg RTT | Notes |
|---|
How to use
- Run
traceroute <hostname>on macOS/Linux ortracert <hostname>on Windows. - Copy the entire output and paste it into the text area above.
- Click Explain hops to see each hop annotated.
What do the symbols mean?
- * * * — The router at this hop did not respond (ICMP TTL-exceeded was blocked by a firewall or rate limiter). The route may still be working fine.
- Increasing RTT — Normal; latency accumulates with each additional hop.
- RTT spike then drop — A router is deprioritising ICMP probes but forwarding real traffic normally.
- Same IP across consecutive hops — Routing loop or MPLS tunnel not exposing inner hops.
Related network tools
- Ping Output Explainer — decode RTT, TTL, and packet loss from ping
- IP / CIDR Calculator — compute network ranges from CIDR notation
- DNS Record Explainer — understand DNS record types
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this traceroute explainer free?
- Yes, completely free with no signup and no usage limits.
- Does my data leave my device?
- No. All parsing runs in JavaScript inside your browser. Nothing is sent to any server.
- Does it work on mobile?
- Yes. The tool is mobile-first and works on iPhone Safari and Android Chrome.