What command checks for network connectivity between different hosts by sending packets?

The command responsible for checking network connectivity between different hosts by sending packets is ping. This utility works by sending Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request packets to a specified host and waits for an Echo Reply. If the target host is reachable, it will respond to the Echo Request, confirming that there is a network connection between the two systems.

The primary function of ping is to measure round-trip time and determine the status of network links, making it a fundamental tool for diagnosing network connectivity issues. It is widely used by network administrators to ensure that servers and other networked devices are responsive and to troubleshoot any potential problems with network configuration or availability.

In contrast, other options serve different purposes. For instance, traceroute tracks the path packets take to a destination, showing the various hops along the route but not simply confirming whether the destination is reachable. nslookup is used primarily for querying DNS records and resolving domain names into IP addresses, and netstat provides information about network connections, routing tables, and network interface statistics rather than testing connectivity directly.