Q: What is BitTorrent?

A: BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer protocol for sharing files over the Internet.  Unlike a direct download from a server using HTTP or FTP protocol, BitTorrent lets you download small chunks of a file from many others who have copies of it simultaneously.  The original provider makes their download available by creating a small file called a "Torrent".  The Torrent file contains information about the download and also specifies a "Tracker", which is a computer on the Internet that will coordinate the download to others.  BitTorrent has become very popular and, according to Wikipedia, by some estimates it accounts for about 35% of all traffic on the entire Internet.

The best BitTorrent client I am aware of is uTorrent.  I use it exclusively and find it very easy to manage.  If you are considering using BitTorrent to download software or music, I recommend you check it out.  

If you are interested in the mechanics of how BitTorrent works, check out the Wikipedia article for more details. 

One final word: I do NOT advocate illegal downloading of music or pirated software.  And no matter what you are downloading, be sure to look at the comments on the Torrent site to make sure others have left positive comments about the download first.

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