Flooding algorithm: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:43, 30 March 2003

Revision as of 10:44, 30 March 2003

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A '''flooding algorithm''' is a method for distributing material to every part of a connected system. The name derives from the concept of inundation by a [[flood]].

Flooding algorithms are used in systems such as [[Usenet]] and [[peer-to-peer]] [[file sharing system]]s and as part of some [[routing algorithm]]s.

There are several variants of flooding algorithms: the one used on [[Usenet]] works as follows. Each node acts as both a transmitter and a receiver. Each node tries to forward every message to every one of its neighbors. This results in every message eventually being delivered to all reachable neighbors.

There are several variants of flooding algorithms: the one used on [[Usenet]]most works as follows. Each node acts as both a transmitter and a receiver. Each node tries to forward every message to every one of its neighbors. This results in every message eventually being delivered to all reachable neighbors.

The actual algorithm is more complex than this, since precautions have to be taken to avoid wasted duplicate deliveries and infinite loops, and to allow messages to eventually expire from the system.