A defining attribute of this type of network communication is its one-to-many delivery model. Instead of sending individual copies of data to each recipient, information is transmitted to a specific group of interested hosts simultaneously. This selective distribution contrasts with broadcasting, where data is sent to all devices on a network, and unicasting, where data is sent to a single, specific destination. For example, a video stream might be sent to subscribers of a particular channel without impacting other network users.
This method optimizes network bandwidth usage and server resource allocation. By minimizing redundant transmissions, it allows for efficient dissemination of content to multiple receivers. Historically, it has been valuable in applications such as video conferencing, online gaming, and software updates, where delivering the same data to a large number of users is required. This contrasts with earlier, less efficient methods which burdened servers and networks with duplicate transmissions.
