Number of nodes the data must pass through before it reaches its destination. This value is used to determine the most efficient route.

The amount of connections in between the source and destination. The traceroute command can be used with most operating systems to see how many hops it takes to reach a destination.

The number of computers a packet travells through to reach it's destination. The number of computers between your local and the remote computer.

Hops are the number of routers that must examine a packet on the packets way to its destination (the number or routers a packet must pass through). See also traceroute.

An exchange that the packet takes on its way to the destination with a gateway.

The number of routers or gateways on any given path.

The number of systems that a distribution passes through to its destination.