Peer-to-peer

Peer-to-peer is a network architecture in which participating devices communicate and share resources directly, rather than relying on a dedicated central server.

Distributed hash table: A decentralized data structure that maps keys to values across a network of participating nodes. It lets peers locate resources without asking a central directory.
Computer network: A collection of connected devices that exchange data using communication protocols. Peer-to-peer is one architecture for organizing a computer network.
File sharing: The distribution of digital files between users or computer systems. Peer networks let users exchange files without one server supplying every copy.
Centralized network: A network organized around a central authority or service that coordinates participating nodes. It concentrates coordination that peer-to-peer distributes among participants.
Peer discovery: The process by which nodes find other nodes in a network. Peers must find one another before direct exchanges can begin.
Network topology: The arrangement of nodes and connections in a communication network. Peer networks can use different connection patterns, from meshes to overlays.
Voice over IP: The transmission of voice calls over internet protocol networks. Some calling systems establish direct media paths between participants.
Federated architecture: A system in which independently operated servers cooperate through shared protocols. Federation distributes control across servers but retains server-based service roles.
Gossip protocol: A communication method in which nodes spread information by repeatedly sharing it with selected neighbors. Gossip can distribute membership and updates across a changing peer network.
Internet Protocol: The suite of rules that addresses and routes packets across interconnected networks. Peers commonly use IP to send data across the internet.

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