Nmap is an example of what type of tool?

Nmap, which stands for Network Mapper, is primarily recognized as a port scanning tool. It is designed to discover hosts and services on a computer network by sending packets and analyzing the responses. This makes it an essential tool for network administrators and security professionals to assess the security posture of their systems.

The reason Nmap is categorized as a port scanner is due to its ability to identify open ports on a target device, which can be indicative of what services are running and whether those services are exposed to potential security threats. Port scanning is a foundational step in many security assessments as it helps identify potential access points that attackers might exploit.

While Nmap can also perform some additional functions that could overlap with vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, its core capability revolves around scanning ports to determine their status—open, closed, or filtered. Thus, defining it as a port scanner reflects its primary functionality and usage context within the realm of security assessment and testing.