What does peer-to-peer (P2P) mean | Newsverso Glossary

Peer-to-peer (P2P) is a model of communication and file sharing between two or more computers connected via a network, without the need for a centralized server.

In this model, each computer is considered a node on the network and has the ability to send and receive files directly from other nodes, without going through an intermediate server.

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O P2P It is widely used on the internet for sharing files, such as music, videos and software, through specific applications, such as BitTorrent, eMule, among others. 

This model allows users to share files with others quickly and efficiently, without the need to rely on a centralized server to store and distribute the files. However, the use of P2P can also be associated with illegal practices, such as sharing copyrighted content.

Even a child will understand:

Imagine that you need to send a photo file to a friend who is in another city. One way to do this would be to email the file, right? But sometimes this process can be slow depending on the file size and internet connection.

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This is where the concept of peer-to-peer. Instead of sending the file via email or a centralized cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive, you can use a P2P file sharing program.

One example is BitTorrent, which is one of the most popular P2P file sharing programs. 

You can send the file to your friend using this program, and they will be able to download the file directly from your computer, without having to go through an intermediary server.

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This means that, instead of relying on a centralized server, like Dropbox or Google Drive, you and your friend are connected directly, as peers (hence the term “peer-to-peer”), making the process faster and more efficient.

This is one of the main advantages of P2P, especially for transferring large files, which can take a long time to email or upload to a cloud storage service.

It is important to note that although the P2P While it may be a quick and efficient way to share files, it can also be used for illegal practices, such as sharing copyrighted content. So, always use this technology responsibly and ethically.

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