Final answer:
Trace route is a diagnostic tool that helps identify communication breakdowns in a network by sending data packets through routers along the path to a destination and tracking the response times at each hop.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trace route is a network diagnostic tool that helps in identifying where a breakdown in communication might be happening in the network pathway. If you were trying to connect to a website and were unable to, using trace route would send out packets of data that hop from one router to the next on the path towards the destination server. Each hop represents a point along the journey where the data packet stops momentarily before moving on.
As the packets are sent, trace route records the time each hop takes to acknowledge the packet, and then it moves to the next. If the packets stop reaching their destination and do not return in a reasonable amount of time or with corresponding success, this indicates there may be a communication breakdown at that point. For example, if you were successfully receiving responses from the first few hops, but suddenly received no response, it could suggest the breakdown is occurring at the point following the last successful hop.
Using this method, trace route can provide a clearer picture of the network pathway and pinpoint where exactly the communication hiccup is, much like using a cell phone can help you locate a friend in a crowd by making a call or sending a message to ascertain the friend's position.