Definition
Peer-to-Peer Communication
Let be a set of peers in a computer network.
Peer-to-peer communication is an architectural pattern in which every node acts as both a client and a server:
- Any peer can initiate communication with any other peer.
- Each peer both requests services from others and provides services to others.
- No central, always-on node is required.
Communication is symmetric: the role of requester and provider is transient and may be held by any peer at any time.