Ping is a network utility that tests whether one device can reach another over a network, and measures how long that communication takes. The result is reported in milliseconds and reflects the round-trip time for a small data packet to travel from your device to a target server and back. 

The term is used both for the tool itself and the measurement it produces. A lower ping means a faster, more responsive connection. A higher ping indicates more delay, which is especially noticeable in real-time applications like video calls, online gaming, or voice over IP.

When you run a ping test, your device sends a signal to a specified address and waits for a reply. If no reply comes back, it may indicate that the host is unreachable, the connection is down, or the target server is blocking those requests. 

Latency is closely related to ping and is often used interchangeably with it, though latency refers more broadly to delay across a network. Ping is one of the most common tools for measuring packet loss and general ISP connection reliability.