Packet loss is a term used to indicate when data packets sent over a network are lost on their way to their destination. This can happen for various reasons, such as an overloaded network, a firewall on the server you are trying to reach, or disruptions in the device forwarding the traffic.
Packet loss can lead to delays in the network and can make connections slow or unreliable. It can also cause problems with playing videos or streaming music. If you are experiencing packet loss, it can help to investigate the problems using a tool such as a traceroute.
For measuring packet loss in Linux, the 'My TraceRoute' (MTR) software is used to perform a traceroute, see our tutorial 'Measuring Packet Loss in Linux with a traceroute/MTR'. For Windows, the 'WinMTR' tool is used, see our guide 'Measuring Packet Loss in Windows with WinMTR'.