Final answer:
Pinging a web address checks for data packet loss, determining the reachability and the network conditions between the client and the server.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term pinging a web address is used to describe the process of checking for data packet loss. When you ping a website or IP address, it sends small packets of data to the address and waits for a response to determine if the host is reachable across the network and how long it takes for the packets to travel back and forth. This is a basic network troubleshooting tool to check connectivity and assess the network conditions between the client and server.