A request for an electronic "echo" or response from another computer or server is referred to as a ____.

The term "ping" refers specifically to a utility used in networking to test the reachability of a host in an Internet Protocol (IP) network. It involves sending an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request to the target host and waiting for an echo reply. The primary purpose of pinging a device is to check whether it is online and able to respond, allowing users or network administrators to diagnose network connectivity issues.

This concept is fundamental in network troubleshooting because it helps determine whether a network device can be reached and measures the round-trip time for messages sent to the destination. Understanding how ping works is essential for managing network performance and connectivity.

The other choices, while related to networking concepts, do not encapsulate this specific function of sending a request for an electronic echo. A "trace" typically refers to a trace route, which finds the path packets take to reach a destination but does not ask for an echo response. A "signal" is a broader term used in communication that doesn’t specify the context of an echo request. "Fetch" typically pertains to retrieving data but lacks the connotation of an echo request associated with pinging.