A ping sweep is a network scanning technique used to identify active devices on a network. It involves sending a series of Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo requests to multiple IP addresses within a specified range. If a device is active, it will respond with an echo reply, indicating that it is reachable. Network administrators often use ping sweeps for inventory management and troubleshooting. By knowing which devices are online, they can better manage network resources and identify potential issues. However, malicious actors may also use ping sweeps to discover vulnerable targets for attacks.