Ping is a network test that sends a small ICMP echo request to a host and waits for an echo reply. It shows whether the host is reachable and how long the round trip took, in milliseconds. In games, “ping” means that round-trip time.
How it works
Ping uses ICMP, the Internet Control Message Protocol, not TCP or UDP. Each request has a sequence number and a timestamp; the target copies them into its reply. Ping compares the time of the reply with the time it sent the request.
What the results tell you:
- Replies: the host is reachable and the network path works in both directions.
- Time: the round-trip latency.
- Gaps in sequence numbers: packet loss.
- Timeouts on every request: the host is down, unreachable, or simply ignores ping (many servers and firewalls block ICMP).
Ping vs traceroute
Ping tests the end-to-end path to one host. Traceroute shows every router along the way. Ping tells you that something's wrong; traceroute helps find where.
Examples
PING 1.1.1.1 (1.1.1.1): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=57 time=16.381 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=57 time=12.282 ms
--- 1.1.1.1 ping statistics ---
2 packets transmitted, 2 packets received, 0.0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 12.282/14.332/16.381/2.050 ms
A good troubleshooting order: ping your router (is Wi-Fi fine?), then 1.1.1.1 (is the internet reachable?), then a name like apple.com (does DNS work?).
On a Mac
Ping is built into macOS: open Terminal and run ping -c 5 1.1.1.1. Without -c it runs until you press Ctrl+C. Network Utility used to provide a ping tab, but Apple retired it starting with macOS Big Sur, so Terminal is the way now.
See it in the app
LightAtom's Traceroute builds on the same ICMP probes to show every hop to a host on a map.
Frequently asked questions
What does ping mean in games?
The round-trip time between your device and the game server, in milliseconds. Lower is better; under 50 ms feels responsive.
Why does ping fail but the website works?
Many servers and firewalls block ICMP echo requests. A website that loads is reachable, regardless of ping.
What is the difference between ping and traceroute?
Ping measures reachability and round-trip time to one host. Traceroute lists each router along the path and the time to each.
Is ping the same as latency?
Ping measures latency: the result it shows is the round-trip time. People often use the words interchangeably.