FAQ - BitTorrent Concepts

availability
The number of existing full copies of the file available to the client  for downloading. The higher this number is, the potentially easier and quicker it can be to download the complete file (not accounting for other factors). If this number is less than one (for example, 0.65) then there is not a full copy of the file available to download.

block
A block is a piece of a file. When a file is distributed via BitTorrent, it is broken into smaller pieces, or blocks. Typically the block is 250kb in size, but it can vary with the size of the file being distributed. Breaking the file into pieces allows it to be distributed as efficiently as possible. Users get their files faster using less bandwidth.

client
the BitTorrent software used to download and upload files. The BitTorrent client can be downloaded here.

leech or leecher
usually refers to a peer that is downloading while uploading very little, or nothing at all. Sometimes this is unintentional and due to firewall issues. The term leech is also sometimes used to simply refer to a peer that is not seeding  yet.

peer
one of a group of clients downloading the same file.

re-seed
Re-seeding is the act of putting up a new complete copy of a file after no more seeds are available to download from. This is done to allow clients with only partial downloads to complete the download process and increases availability.

scrape
This is when a client sends a request to the tracker for information about the statistics of the torrent, like who to share the file with and how well those other users are sharing.

seed
a complete copy of the file being made available for download.

seeder/seeding
a peer  that is done downloading a file and is now just making it available to others.

swarm
a group of seeds and peers  sharing the same torrent.

torrent
generally, the instance of a file or group of files being distributed via BitTorrent.

torrent file
a file which describes what file or files are being distributed, where to find parts, and other info needed for the distribution of the file.

tracker
a server that keeps track of the peers and seeds in a swarm. A tracker does not have a copy of the file itself, but it helps manage the file transfer process.

When BitTorrent finishes downloading a file, the bar becomes solid green and the newly downloaded file becomes a new "seed"--a complete version of the file. In this example, the top file is complete and can now seed.

It will continue to seed the file to other interested users until you tell it not to by pausing it or removing the torrent from your queue. The more clients that seed the file, the easier it is for everyone to download it. So, if you can, please continue to seed the file for others by keeping it in your queue for a while at least.

You can always check out www.bittorrent.com for a wide variety of digital fun. Other search engines, communities, and sites posting torrent files exist as well. You can even search for torrents by putting in what you're looking for, then adding "torrent" in any Internet search engine.

Yes, the BitTorrent software client, as well as creating, downloading, and sharing torrents with peers are completely free. There's no subscription, memberships, fees--nothing like that.

If someone DID charge you a fee to get our software client or access our site, you have been scammed and should seek a refund. Our software and web site can be freely accessed at http://www.bittorrent.com/.

BitTorrent is a way to transfer files of just about any size quickly and efficiently. It works by breaking files up into small pieces. The file is downloaded piece by piece from one or many different sources. It's efficient because you get faster downloads using a lot less bandwidth. The name BitTorrent is also used to describe the official BitTorrent client.

When you use BitTorrent, you make, distribute and get files. To make and share a file or group of files through BitTorrent, you first make it into a “torrent"--a small file which contains information about the files and about the computer that coordinates the file distribution. Others (refered to as "peers") find and open your torrent and begin downloading the pieces. As the file downloads to peers' machines, those peers also share the pieces they get with even more people who are also trying to download the same file. This sharing makes the file easier to download as more parts become available from multiple sources. Since the file is broken up into small pieces, little bandwidth is used to do the overall transfer. Once the file is finished downloading, the client software continues to share the completed file (becoming a "seed") with others looking for it. This also means the file can still be downloaded long after the original poster has stopped seeding the file.