This article explains what a ping test is and how to perform one on both Windows and Mac. You'll also learn how to interpret the responses and view a list of additional parameters you can use in your ping command.

At its most basic, a ping test is a way to check connectivity and responsiveness, whether it’s for a website, computer, or network. With a ping command, you send messages (requests) to the destination in the hopes of receiving messages (responses) back for a successful test.

In this scenario, ping stands for Packet InterNet or Inter-Network Groper. The ping command sends so-called ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) echo request packets to the destination to test connectivity.

If the test is successful, you will receive echo responses. Below we explain how to interpret them.