What does the tracert/traceroute command display?

The tracert (on Windows) or traceroute (on Unix/Linux systems) command is utilized to trace the path that data packets take from the source computer to a specified destination across a network. It helps in diagnosing network-related issues by providing a detailed list of the intermediate devices, known as hops, that the packets pass through on their way to the destination.

When you execute the command, it sends out a series of echo requests with increasing Time-To-Live (TTL) values. Each router that the packet reaches decrements the TTL and sends back an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) "Time Exceeded" message once the TTL reaches zero. This process reveals the routers and their respective IP addresses along the path to the destination, effectively displaying the hops and routers in sequence. This is invaluable for network troubleshooting, as it allows you to identify where delays or failures are occurring along the route.

The other options do not accurately characterize what the command does. For example, it does not display error messages specifically from the destination or data packets that are received by the source. Additionally, it does not provide information about bandwidth usage across the network; instead, it focuses solely on the path taken by packets to reach their destination.