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What Is Torrenting?
BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer (P2P) file transfer protocol designed for distributing large files efficiently. Instead of downloading a file from a single server, you download pieces of the file simultaneously from many other users who already have it.
How It Works
When you open a torrent, your client connects to a tracker (or uses DHT/PEX) to find other users who have the file. It then downloads small pieces from multiple peers at once, dramatically increasing speed compared to a single-server download. As you download, you also upload pieces to others who need them.
Key Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Seeder | A user who has the complete file and is uploading it to others |
| Leecher | A user who is still downloading (and may be uploading partial data) |
| Swarm | The collective group of seeders and leechers for a torrent |
| Ratio | Your upload amount divided by your download amount |
| Tracker | A server that coordinates which peers are in a swarm |
| DHT | Distributed Hash Table — a trackerless peer discovery method |
| PEX | Peer Exchange — peers share lists of other known peers |
.torrent Files vs Magnet Links
There are two ways to open a torrent:
.torrent file
- A small binary file (~10–100 KB) that contains the info hash, file list, piece sizes, and tracker URLs
- Downloaded from a website, then opened in your client
Magnet link
- A URI starting with
magnet:?xt=urn:btih:... - Contains just the info hash (and optionally trackers and display name)
- No file to download — click it and your torrent client opens directly
- Example:
magnet:?xt=urn:btih:08ada5a7a6183aae1e09d831df6748d566095a10&dn=ExampleFile
Magnet links are simpler and more common today. Magnetz provides magnet links for everything it indexes.
Info Hashes
The info hash is a SHA-1 (or SHA-256 for newer torrents) fingerprint of the torrent's metadata — file names, sizes, and piece hashes. It uniquely identifies a torrent and is the core of a magnet link.
Two torrents with the same files will have the same info hash, regardless of which site they came from. This is why you can verify a torrent's authenticity by checking its info hash against a trusted database.
Info hashes are shown on Magnetz detail pages and can be used to search for the same torrent across multiple sources.
Seeders and Leechers
- More seeders = faster downloads. Aim for torrents with at least a few active seeders.
- Ratio matters on private trackers. Upload as much as you download to maintain good standing.
- A torrent with 0 seeders is dead and will never complete unless a seeder returns.
Next Steps
- Your First Download — ready to try it? Start here.
- Choosing a Client — pick the right torrent client for your OS.