A decentralized network model in which each participant, or “peer,” can act as both a client and a server, sharing resources like files, data, or processing power directly with other peers. Unlike traditional client-server models, where a central server provides resources to clients, P2P networks distribute tasks and responsibilities across all participating peers.
Decentralization: There is no central authority or server. Each peer can communicate directly with any other peer, making the network more resilient to failures.
Resource Sharing: Peers contribute and consume resources equally. This often means sharing files, bandwidth, or processing power.
Scalability: P2P networks can grow easily, as each new peer contributes additional resources to the network.
Redundancy: Since multiple peers often host the same data, the network has built-in redundancy, improving reliability and data availability.
P2P networks are widely used for applications requiring distributed resources and can work efficiently even with many peers connected, making them popular for file sharing, blockchain, and distributed computing.
File Sharing: P2P networks like BitTorrent allow users to share files directly without relying on a central server, enabling faster downloads as more peers join.
Voice over IP (VoIP): Some VoIP services, such as Skype, have used P2P architecture to facilitate direct communication between users.