PING

Definition	:	Packet InterNet Gopher
Category	:	Computing » Networking
Country/Region	:	Worldwide
Popularity	:
Type	:	Backronym

What does PING mean?

Ping is a utility used to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. It works by sending an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request (Ping) and waits for a reply (Pong). The terms "Ping" and "Pong" have nothing to do with the game of Ping-Pong. The word ping came from the sound that a submarine's sonar makes when it bounces off physical objects underwater.

Note:
It is often believed that "Ping" is an acronym for Packet InterNet Groper, but Ping's author has stated that the names comes from the sound that a sonar makes. The Ping utility was originally developed in late 1983 by Mike Muuss.