What does the term network hops mean? How do prevent a longer network connection?
Network Hops Overview
The term network hops are often used when a user wants to know more about the total distance over which their Internet data must travel. This is from their computer to the Internet. To understand what this is all about, it is important to acknowledge the fact that there is no direct, physical connection between computers and the Internet.
A computer can only ever communicate with another computer if they are connected in some way. In reality, most of us use modems and routers or other devices. This is to access the Web and our computers will never actually make direct contact with the Internet.
When you type an address into your browser, it sends a request out into the vastness of the Internet. That request could bounce off several devices before it reaches its intended destination. So, this can happen because many networks are set up in such a way that they do not allow traffic to pass directly between them.
Instead, they route data through one or more other devices on the network. This may be due to security concerns or simply because that is how those networks have been designed. For your data packet to reach its destination, it must travel from your computer through one device on your local network.
Then it travels through a router on a larger network (such as your ISPs) and finally through another router somewhere else on the Internet. It belongs to another network provider. Every time this happens, a small amount of time is added to your overall connection time – this is what is known as a “hop”.
What Does Network Hops Mean?
A hop occurs when data passes from one point on a network directly onto another point on that same network. For example, when you send an email from one account on AOL to another account on AOL there are no “hops”. Because both points of data transmission are directly connected to AOL’s server network.
This is assuming both emails are sent by AOL users. When you send an email from Yahoo! to ABC News there are “hops”. Because both points of data transmission are not directly connected – Yahoo!
It has its network while ABC News has its server network as well. So your data must be routed by other intermediary devices before it reaches its destination. A good analogy would be driving from New York City to Philadelphia: for you to make it from one city to another you would have to pass through several smaller towns.
How To Avoid Longer Network Connection Time?
The term network hops refer to the fact that data must pass through several intermediary devices on its way from one network to another. Every device in between adds an extra amount of time to your data’s connection time. It can lead to slowness and lag.
If you want to avoid longer network connection time, avoid using public Wi-Fi hotspots or wireless connections wherever possible. Many of these connections are very slow and laggy due to the number of users using them at any one time. In addition, avoid using proxy servers unless necessary.