Which netstat parameter helps retrieve the contents of the IP routing table?

The parameter that retrieves the contents of the IP routing table is indeed the one that stands for "route." By using this parameter, you can view the current routing paths that the system knows about, which includes details on destination networks, gateways, and interfaces. This information is crucial for understanding how data packets are being routed through the network and can assist in troubleshooting network connectivity issues.

The other parameters serve different functions: one shows all listening connections and open ports, another provides numeric addresses instead of resolving hostnames, and the last displays protocol statistics. However, none of these options deal specifically with the routing table, making the one that requests routing information the clear choice for retrieving that specific data.