A peer-to-peer (p2p, peer 2 peer) network is a group of computers that exchange dates among themselves.
The opposite of peer-to-peer is the Client-server model; the Internet works this way. A client then requests information from a central server, such as when making a bank transaction. Watching movies on the Internet also works this way. Someone enters a search term and Google's servers provide answers.
The peers in a peer-to-peer network are computer systems and other devices that are connected to each other. Files can be shared directly through the network to which the peers are connected. There is no central management tool incorporated into the network. Thus, each peer is server and client at the same time. A p2p network is decentralized because all peers have the same rights. The blockchain is an example of a peer-to-peer network. In a p2p network, the capabilities of individual computers are combined. This involves computing power, storage space and bandwidth. All the individual computers together in this way offer competition to the central servers of tech giants.
The purpose of a peer to peer network is to share resources and get computer to work together to perform a particular task. One of the most common tasks a p2p network performs is file sharing. Computers can receive and send at the same time, when you download a file on a traditional website the website serves as the server and the person downloading as the client.
When you do this over a p2p network, the download comes from multiple computers that already have the file. The network then turns those individual pieces into a single file. At the same time, the file is also sent again from your computer. Programs like BitTorrent and LimeWire also use this technology to share files.
