Packet capture, also known as packet sniffing, is the process of intercepting and analyzing data packets as they travel through a computer network.
It involves capturing the raw network traffic, including headers, payloads, and metadata, to gain insights into network communication, troubleshoot issues, monitor activity, and analyze security events.
Packet capture is used for network analysis to understand performance, diagnose problems, and optimize infrastructure. It is also valuable for security analysis to detect malicious activities and investigate threats.
Wireshark is a popular tool that provides a graphical interface for capturing and analyzing network packets, enabling users to gain valuable insights into network behavior.