Peer-to-Peer-Network (P2P)

A Peer-to-Peer Network, or P2P network, is a network architecture in which participating devices communicate directly and can provide resources to each other. Individual devices are referred to as peers and can both request and provide services. This distinguishes the architecture from the traditional client-server model, where resources and services are provided by a central server. P2P networks are used for applications such as direct file sharing, distributed applications, communication services and certain blockchain systems. Depending on the architecture, communication between peers can be fully decentralised or partially coordinated through central components. Key benefits include flexible resource distribution and potential scalability as additional peers join the network. However, decentralised structures can also create additional requirements for IT security, access control, data management and network administration.