Download speeds and downloading data is always dependent on the individual who is handling the file or the computer system through which the file is being handled. Different file types have different sites or networks for handling them.
The files with large data size are usually handled by torrents. The word ‘torrent’ must be familiar to all those who have tried to or do download large data files like movies or matches. Along with torrent, comes the words Seeds and leechers.
Seed vs Leecher
The main difference between Seed and Leecher is that seed downloads the complete files and also leaves their torrent links open for others to download from whereas leechers are the ones who download or are downloading the files from the torrent links given by the seeders.
Seeds are from the word ‘seed’. Seeds have the downloaded file and leave the link for the files to be downloaded from. Seeds increases download speed but can cause a decrease in upload speed. A single torrent file can have multiple seeds.
Leechers are from the word ‘leech’ that are creatures who feed off others. True to the words, leechers are the ones who download the file from the links given by the seeds or seeders. Once a leecher has completed the download, they become seeds as they do not affect the bandwidth anymore.
Comparison Table Between Seed and Leecher
| Parameters of Comparison | Seed | Leecher |
| Meaning | They download and leave the torrent link | They download but do not leave any link |
| Downloading | Already has the entire file downloaded | Download from the links given by the Seeds. |
| Speed | Increases download speed | Lowers download speed |
| Impact | More Seeds means more download speed | More leechers have a negative impact on torrent file speed. |
| Correlation | Seeds have the complete file downloaded | Once leechers have completed download and have left the link for others to download they become Seeds. |
What is Seed?
Seeds are the clients in the form of computer systems or people who give links for downloading the files that they have already downloaded. This means that they give links from which others can download their files. The computer or people themselves are called seeders
Seeds increase the download and upload speed of files. One file can have more than one seeders. So, the more the number of seeders is the greater is the downloading speed for the ones using the link for downloading.
Seeding is a peer-to-peer file sharing practice and is also referred to as P2P for convenience. To become a seeder one must have all the data, be it big or small, available in their system in downloaded files. If more peers are sharing the same content, they are called a swarm.
A seed is encouraged in practice whereas leeching is not. Though P2P is legal and is done over a large network, there is no one overlooking the process. Since seeding is a part of this process, there can also be chances of illegal files being transferred. This can lead to legal issues.
What is Leecher?
In computing, leeching means feeding off others or the ones who benefit from others work and do not return anything. They are the ones who use uploaded links for downloading the torrent files.
Some leechers leave the link open for others to download once they are done while others don’t for reasons one may never know. The ones who leave the link after downloading become seeders.
The ratio between leechers to seeders s told be kept 1:1 because this would maintain the download and upload speed of the files. More leechers would lead to lower downloading speed as the uploading speed increases.
Some leechers take down the torrent link or change the link in such a way that uploading of files is not possible. These types of practices are not encouraged and people have been searching for ways to prevent this from happening.
Main Differences Between Seed and Leecher
- Seeds are the person or the computer that has downloaded the file and has still left the torrent link for others to download from it. Whereas leechers download the entire file, some may leave the link while others don’t.
- Seeds already have the downloaded file whereas leechers download the files from the links given by the Seeds.
- Seeds increase the download speed but leechers decrease the download speed.
- They have different impacts on the torrent files as well. If the number of Seeds increases for a torrent file, then the download speed also increases. But, if the number of leechers is more than the Seeds then there will be a negative impact on the torrent file speed.
- A Seed cannot become a leecher. Once leechers have downloaded the complete file and have still left the link for others to download, they become the Seeds.
Conclusion
Seeds and leechers are terms used when one comes across downloading files from torrent links. They are both used for the individuals or the computers who manage or download files from links.
Seeds are the ones who have already completed the downloading process and have still left their link open. This is for others to download the files from the same link. If there are more seeds in a torrent link, the download speed increases for the others.
Leechers are the ones who are downloading the files from the link given by the seeders. The word comes from ‘leech’ which are the creatures that feed off or leeches off others. If there are more leechers than seeders for a file, then the download speed decreases but upload speed increases.
Leechers and seeders are the individual or the computer system that are inter-dependent. Only if there are seeders, the leechers can download the files from their link. Leechers, after downloading can become seeders by keeping their link open.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167624510000508
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/4178376/