webseed

A webseed is a source of data for a peer-to-peer file sharing system, specifically BitTorrent. Instead of relying solely on other peers to download a file, a webseed provides an additional download source, typically from a traditional HTTP or FTP server. This can significantly improve download speeds, especially for popular torrents where peer connections might be saturated or slow. Webseeds are often employed by content creators or distributors to ensure a stable and fast initial download experience for users. When a BitTorrent client supports webseeds, it will attempt to download pieces of the file from both peers and the designated webseed servers concurrently. This hybrid approach can be particularly beneficial for new torrents, where there are few or no peers available initially, allowing users to start downloading the file immediately from the webseed. The use of webseeds does not alter the fundamental peer-to-peer nature of BitTorrent; it simply adds an optional, high-bandwidth source to the distribution network. Not all torrent clients or torrent files support webseeds.