<strong>BitTorrent is a network protocol for exchanging files over the Internet.</strong> It was created by the American programmer Bram Cohen, who wrote the first torrent-client "BitTorrent" in Python language in April 2001. Files on this protocol are transmitted in parts, and each torrent client receiving these parts, at the same time, gives them to other customers.

<em>To work BitTorrent, as a rule, you need a tracker - a specialized server that uses the HTTP protocol. It is necessary that clients, called feasts, can find each other.</em>

![bittorrent-network-flow2.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZqaVnN2bndhhjmHSDQX5t6kbvXhX4uBK71BC3Nve8AZM/bittorrent-network-flow2.gif)

<strong>When connecting, customers immediately exchange information about their existing segments.</strong> Data exchange begins when each of the parties has segments that the other does not have.

![howbittorrentworks.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXPst7dEXaWVyyJisWRRwYjTxik9jRcLi1Z2wp8D94FgR/howbittorrentworks.gif)

<strong>The order of the exchange is chosen in such a way that customers first exchange the rarest segments</strong>: thus, the availability of files in the distribution is increased. The segments themselves are divided into blocks with sizes from 16 to 4000 kilobytes. At the same time, blocks from different segments can be requested.