When it comes to downloading content from the internet, just about everyone's heard of BitTorrent. But if you're new to this whole internet file sharing thing, you might not know how it all works.

Essentially, BitTorrent is two things: it's an open source peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing protocol that was created specifically for transferring large files (such as audio or video files); and it's also a computer program designed to let you search for, and download, torrents—little descriptor files which describe where to get the media (huge) file—which will allow you to download the media file using the BitTorrent protocol.

BitTorrent Protocol

With any kind of electronic data transfer, the computers who are sending and receiving the data need to be able to talk to one another. A "protocol" is a standard set of rules for sending, authenticating, and receiving data back and forth along a specific kind of transfer medium, or channel.

The BitTorrent protocol is designed to allow you to share files with a huge number of people efficiently, without taxing your system and bandwidth resources. Using this protocol means you can share huge amounts of data with others, cheaply and easily.

BitTorrent Clients

Simply put, a BitTorrent client is a free computer program that uses the BitTorrent protocol. Clients are capable of creating torrents, requesting data from other users, and transmitting files across a network.

Each computer using a BitTorrent client makes up part of a network of interconnected computers, called peers. Peer-to-peer networks are great because everyone provides storage, bandwidth, and computing power.

Is This Legal?

Keep in mind that any files you're searching for or sharing out may be subject to copyright. Quite a few major Hollywood studios have partnered with BitTorrent.com to distribute content, so it's very easy to find what you want and not violate the law.

Make sure that any site or service you're using is licensed to distribute content, keeping it legal. There are many rogue sites on the internet that share torrents illegally; these illegal distributors are often shut down or are subjected to heavy fines for copyright infringement. The potential consequences of dealing with unauthorized distributors just isn't worth the risk.

A Final Word

As with any networked device, there are risks to using BitTorrent. It's protocol doesn't provide users with anonymity, so it's not only possible to track your IP address, you can pretty much expect it to happen. This can also leave your computer vulnerable to attacks. But keep in mind that you're not building a whole library of files, your computer's only open to others on the network while you're actively receiving a file; this minimizes the risks.

So go ahead! Download a client, and check out what BitTorrent has to offer for your entertainment pleasure. As long as you stick to reputable sources, it's a quick, efficient way to find great content online that you and your whole family can enjoy.