What Is a Video Torrent or a Downloading Torrent?
A torrent a file under the process of transferring from one computer to another following the BitTorrent protocol. BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing system that uses its own terminology to describe the actions of the people participating.
Other People Are Reading
-
BitTorrent
-
The BitTorrent system was invented by Bram Cohen in 2001. It was not the first file sharing system. However, its popularity grew because it treats files as segments, enabling users to copy files from many different sources rather than relying on one provider. This speeds up the downloading process and reduces the burden on each holder of the file.
Terminology
-
A file available for download is called a "torrent." The instances of complete copies of the file available for downloads are called "seeds." The source of a seed is called a "seeder" and while a file is available for downloading it is "seeding." So a downloading torrent is called a "seeding torrent." The source of a partial copy of a file, who is also still copying other sections of the same file, is called a "peer." Many different types of files are exchanged over the BitTorrent system. The most popular types are music, music videos, TV programs and films. Any file with a video format is a video torrent if it is available for downloading in the BitTorrent system.
-
Process
-
Members do not need to pay a subscription fee or log on to a system in order to download torrents. The BitTorrent system is a peer-to-peer system that enables computer users to contact each other directly without any central control. The user needs a BitTorrent client and an Internet connection in order to contact other users. Torrent listing sites contain torrent programs. When one of these is downloaded and opened in the client program, the client follows instructions in the downloaded torrent program to trace sources for the described file. The sources are listed on servers called trackers. The torrent file contains the address for the tracker of a file.
Legality
-
Downloading files through BitTorrent is not illegal. Users break copyright law, however, when they copy a file without permission of the copyright holder. This particularly applies to music and video files where the major producers of content in the entertainment industry are eager to prevent pirating of their property. Despite their efforts, many video torrents and audio torrents are copied every day.
-
References
- Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
