What is "bittorrent"

peer-to-peer file sharing protocol, implemented in 2001, from bit (n.2) in the computing sense + torrent.

n. (context nonstandard English) (alternative case form of BitTorrent English)

BitTorrent is a communications protocol of peer-to-peer file sharing which is used to distribute data over the Internet. BitTorrent is one of the most common protocols for transferring large files, and peer-to-peer networks have been estimated to collectively account for approximately 43% to 70% of all Internet traffic (depending on location) . In November 2004, BitTorrent was responsible for 25% of all Internet traffic. As of February 2013, BitTorrent was responsible for 3.35% of all worldwide bandwidth, more than half of the 6% of total bandwidth dedicated to file sharing.

To send or receive files one uses a BitTorrent client: a computer program that implements the BitTorrent protocol. Such clients include μTorrent, Xunlei, Transmission, qBittorrent, Vuze, Deluge, and BitComet. BitTorrent trackers provide a list of files available for transfer, and allow the client to find peers known as seeds who may transfer the files.

Programmer Bram Cohen, a former University at Buffalo student, designed the protocol in April 2001 and released the first available version on 2 July 2001, and the most recent version in 2013. BitTorrent clients are available for a variety of computing platforms and operating systems including an official client released by BitTorrent, Inc.

, BitTorrent has 15–27 million concurrent users at any time. , BitTorrent is utilized by 150 million active users. Based on this figure, the total number of monthly BitTorrent users may be estimated to more than a quarter of a billion.

BitTorrent is an ad-supported peer-to-peer program developed by Bram Cohen and BitTorrent, Inc. used for uploading and downloading files via the BitTorrent protocol. BitTorrent was the first client written for the protocol. It is often nicknamed Mainline by developers denoting its official origins. Since version 6.0 the BitTorrent client has been a rebranded version of µTorrent. As a result, it is no longer open source. It is currently available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Android (operating system).

BitTorrent, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a privately held American company that is responsible for the ongoing development of the BitTorrent peer-to-peer protocol, as well as the ongoing development of µTorrent and BitTorrent Mainline, two clients for that protocol.

Today, files transferred using the BitTorrent protocol constitute a significant slice of all Internet traffic. The company was founded on September 22, 2004 by Bram Cohen and Ashwin Navin.

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer (P2P) communications protocol for file sharing. It may also refer to:

• BitTorrent (company), a company which develops and maintains the BitTorrent protocol
• BitTorrent (software), the original BitTorrent client
• BitTorrent DNA (Delivery Network Accelerator)