BitTorrent is a tool for copying files from one machine to another. FTP punishes sites for being popular. Since all uploading is done from one place, a popular site needs big iron and big bandwidth. With BitTorrent, clients automatically mirror files they download, making the publisher's burden almost nothing.
BitTorrent is a tool for distributed download. Go to http://www.bittorrent.com/ for the latest version, or http://www.bittorrent.com/dl/?C=M;O=D for source and older versions.
A P2P file distribution protocol where people downloading the file then upload to other members of a cloud of people interested in receiving the file, spreading around the distribution cost. Also a company created to commercially exploit the technology. In the interests of full disclosure, note that I am a Director of BitTorrent, Inc.
a small file that contains information about the data that you want to extract, not the data itself
or torrents, are a way to share files, usually movies, music, games or programs over the internet. The way it works is you first download a small program called the client, then you search for torrents. Once you've found the one your looking for, you click run and it will open the bittorent client and automatically start downloading the file. The files are located on the personal computers of individuals, as you download from them, other people will be uploading from you untill you complete your download. For more info see How to download free stuff
A program allowing transaction of files over the internet.
A peer-to-peer protocol that makes clients double as servers, allowing the file being shared to be downloaded faster by peers who join the Torrent.
An effective tool for sharing large files based on peer-to-peer connections. Different parts of files are distributed in chunks and then reassembled on the receiving machine.