The Basics of Peer to Peer Networks

File sharing applications allow your computer to connect to a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. Once connected, you are able to download and share files with other users on the network. P2P networking has been around for many years, but file sharing applications have made it easy to trade files with people around the world.

The files available on P2P networks (music, movies, software, etc.) are stored on each user's personal computer. When you download a file from this type of network, you connect directly to the computer of another user on that network. When others download a file you are sharing, they connect directly to your computer to obtain it.