BitTorrent (aka BT) – a popular peer-to-peer file transfer protocol, which means that it that allows to split the “work” of sharing files between many users rather than just download from one server.

Torrent

1. Sometimes people use the term “Torrent” instead of “BitTorrent”, the protocol.

2. A small service file with .torrent extension that contains data that your computer needs in order to be able to download the files you need.

3. Occasionally, BT users refer to files they get from BY community as “torrents”.

Tracker – a server which stores .torrent files and some information about BT protocol users, files etc. Sometimes trackers also count ratio for users (see below). Trackers coordinate actions of BT users, and almost in all cases when you download or share a torrent file, you are connected to one or few trackers.

BitTorrent Client – a special piece of software that you need in order to be able to download and upload files in torrent protocol.

Seeder (aka Seed) – a BT protocol user who has downloaded the file and is sharing it with other users or had the file on his/her computer and decided to share it with other BT users.

Leecher (aka Leech) – a BT protocol user who has does not have the complete copy of the file yet or has downloaded it but isn’t sharing it.

Peer

1. Sometimes used with the same meaning as leecher.

2. A BT protocol user, e.g. seeder or leecher.

Submitter – someone who has submitted a .torrent file to a tracker.

Uploader – someone who has been the first seeder of a file. In most cases the submitter is also the uploader.

To make (create) a torrent – to create a .torrent file for file(s) that you wish to share.

Swarm – the sum of all peers (seeders and leechers) around a file in BT protocol – all those who are downloading a file and sharing it.

Share ratio/rating – the amount of data you have uploaded to a tracker divided by the amount you have downloaded. Some trackers count the ratio for each user and determine the speed for them based on the ratio. Sometimes you may be banned from a tracker for having a low ratio. In case a tracker counts ratio, try to keep it above 1.0 (e.g. share more than you download).