How to Find How Many Hops to Reach Google

How does your data travel from your computer or device to Google’s server? This is possible through several stops or routers, otherwise known as Hops. Your data passes these hops to reach their required destination. 

A tool called Traceroute is available to trace the path followed by your data and to determine the exact number of Hops passed by your data. This guide explains how you can find how many hops to reach Google. 

What are Hops?

The number of devices passed through the data packets when transferred from your computer to the destination is called Hops. Your data is not transferred directly from your device to Google when you browse and open any webpage such as Google. 

Instead, it passes multiple stops and routers on its way. These stops and routers are known as Hops. Whenever your data jumps from one router to another router, it is referred to as one Hop. 

Why Check the Number of Hops?

One must wonder why it is essential to determine the number of hops that are passed by your data every time you browse the internet. Some reasons why it is necessary to check the number of hops are given below:

Optimize Performance

By checking the number of hops, you can determine the speed of the internet. The fewer the hops, the faster the internet connection. 

Understand Internet Paths

Hops helps you to understand the path from which your data is passed.

Troubleshoot Network Issues

You can also detect network issues by checking the number of hops by finding out if and where any failure or delay is occurring. 

How to Find the Number of Hops to Reach Google

Here are the steps through which you can find the number of hops to reach Google:

Step 1: Use the Traceroute Tool

Traceroute is a simple tool that can help you find the route your data passes from your computer to Google.

Step 2: Run the Command

Windows: 

1. Open the Command prompt, press Win + R, type cmd, and hit Enter. 
2. Type tracert google.com and press Enter. 

MacOS:

1. Open the terminal.
2. Type traceroute google.com and press Enter. 

Step 3: Interpret the Output

A list of hops will be shown in the result like this:

Each line in the result represents a hop. The last line is your destination, i.e., Google. The number of lines before the destination is your number of hops. 

How to Use Traceroute Effectively

Check for Patterns

If there is any constant latency or timeout in a particular hop, there’s a chance of a problem in the router or network segment. 

Run Multiple Tests

Try running the traceroute command twice or thrice to get precise and accurate results, as the network conditions vary frequently. 

Use Online Tools

To visualize and uncover hops, you can use online tools other than the command line, such as PingPlotter or NetworkTools.com.

What Affects the Number of Hops?

The number of Hops that reach Google vary because of some factors such as;

Your Location

The closer you are to Google’s servers, the fewer hops are required to reach Google. Fewer hops also mean faster internet. 

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Different internet service providers use different paths. 

Network Congestion

If the network is busy, your data may take another route, indirectly increasing your number of hops. More hops indicate slower internet. 

Google Server’s Location

Since Google is a worldwide webpage, its servers are spread all across the globe. Therefore, your destination can vary according to location, indirectly affecting the number of hops.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Why does the number of hops vary?

  

  Multiple factors affect the number of hops, such as your location, internet service provider, routing path, and destination location.

• Is it possible to reduce the number of hops to Google?

  

  It is impossible to directly control the number of hops and the path your data takes. However, if one uses a faster internet service provider or a PureVPN, there’s a good chance that fewer hops might be used.

• Are lesser hops always better and beneficial?

  

  The fewer the hops, the faster the internet. However, it is not always beneficial as it also depends on the quality, network congestion, and speed of the routers.

• What happens if the traceroute is not completed?

  

  Certain factors, such as routing issues, firewalls, and network restrictions, can inhibit the traceroute from reaching Google. If this happens, you can try again after some time, or you may contact your ISP.

In Summary 

Finding how many hops to reach Google is essential if you want to uncover how your data is transmitted from your computer to Google’s server. You can use a simple online traceroute tool to see and visualize your data's route. The end result will display the number of hops that were used to reach your destination. 

The fewer hops indicate faster internet and more efficient routes. Hops can also be used to detect any delay or failure in the routing path. Remember the journey your data took the next time you searched for something on Google. It is remarkable how many hops are used to display your results in milliseconds.