Which command shows the path between source and destination in a TCP/IP network?

The command that shows the path between a source and destination in a TCP/IP network is Tracert. This command is used to trace the route that packets take to reach a specific destination. When executed, Tracert sends a series of Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request messages to the destination. Each message has a Time to Live (TTL) value that dictates how many hops the packet can make before it expires. As the packet travels through each router on the way to its destination, the TTL value is decremented. If the TTL reaches zero before reaching the destination, that router sends back an ICMP Time Exceeded message, allowing Tracert to report the address of the router and the round-trip time taken.

This capability to map the route and report on the individual hops helps network technicians diagnose issues along the path, understand routing, and assess the performance of the network between points. The output typically includes the IP addresses of the routers traversed and the time taken for each hop, enabling users to pinpoint potential problem areas more effectively.