A packet capture tool allows you to monitor and record packets as they travel across a computer network. This lets you see what’s happening behind the scenes of your organization’s network infrastructure. You could even use a packet capture tool on your home network to analyze bandwidth.

The most basic form of packet capture involves running software on a device that monitors network traffic and saves captured packets into a file. These files are called “packet captures.” They’re usually stored in the .pcap file extension.

You can find packet capture files on many devices, including routers, switches, firewalls, wireless access points, and computers. Some packet capture products let you view live network traffic, while others allow you to save captured packets for later viewing.

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