What type of network is referred to as peer-to-peer (P2P)?

A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is characterized by its decentralized nature, where each participant in the network, often referred to as a "peer," can act both as a client and a server. This means that every device on the network can share its resources, such as files or computing power, directly with other devices without needing a central server to mediate the communication. This model makes P2P networks particularly efficient for sharing large amounts of data or resources among users, as it distributes tasks across multiple devices rather than relying on a single server.

This is in contrast to centralized server networks, which rely heavily on a single server to manage and distribute resources. Exclusive corporate networks typically limit usage to a specific organization and often involve centralized control. Similarly, cloud-based service networks also depend on external servers hosted in data centers, which manage resources and services for users without peer-to-peer interaction. Thus, the definition of a P2P network aligns closely with leveraging participants' computing power, allowing for more collaborative resource sharing and interaction.