Hop (networking)

Hop [ hɔp ] (English " bouncer ", " stage " ) called in computer networks the path from one network node to the next.

In a computer network, the binary information is divided into data packets, as long as the intermediate station to intermediate station ( see router) are forwarded until they reach the addressee. The transition from one station to the next is called Hop, because the package figuratively speaking one step further " hops ".

We distinguish single-hop connections in which exactly one hop between the sender and receiver of multi-hop compounds in which the packets are passed through several intermediate stations. In multi-hop networks, also referred to as the n -hop neighborhood of a node, where n is replaced by a natural number; these are all nodes which can be reached by the considered node over more than n hops.

The Hop Count (English " hop count " ) is the number of steps that must travel a packet on its way from source to destination; the number of lying along this path router is logically lower by one. The hop count can be determined, for example using the diagnostic tool traceroute.

On the hops based approach Time to Live, in which a count variable in the data packet itself is reduced with each hop by one. Reaches the count variable is zero, the packet is discarded, no longer forwarded and deleted. In this way it can be prevented that data packets wander endlessly through the network and wasting resources if form due to incorrect routing of circuit routes.