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What is Peer-to-Peer (P2P) File Sharing?

Imagine you want to hand your friend a USB drive. You don't mail it to a warehouse first, then have them pick it up later. You just hand it directly to them. That's peer-to-peer file sharing – except through the internet.

BurritoShare uses WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) technology to create a direct connection between your browser and your recipient's browser. Your files travel the shortest possible path, encrypted end-to-end, without ever touching our servers.

Traditional File Sharing vs BurritoShare P2P

Traditional Way

You → Cloud Server → Recipient

Slow, Privacy Risk

BurritoShare Way

You → Recipient

Fast, Private

How WebRTC Makes This Possible

WebRTC is a powerful technology built into modern web browsers that enables real-time communication. While it's commonly used for video calls, BurritoShare leverages its data channel capabilities for file transfers.

The Technical Magic Behind BurritoShare

Here's what happens when you share a file:

Create Bundle

You select your file and we generate a unique link

Signal Exchange

Both browsers connect to our signaling server

P2P Connection

Browsers establish direct connection using WebRTC

File Transfer

Your file streams directly to the recipient

The Technical Details (For the Curious)

1. WebRTC Peer Connection

When you create a share link, BurritoShare sets up an RTCPeerConnection – think of it as a private tunnel between two browsers. This connection uses:

STUN Servers: Help browsers discover their public IP addresses (we use Google's public STUN server)
ICE Candidates: Multiple potential connection paths to ensure the best route is found
DTLS Encryption: Military-grade encryption for all data transferred

// Simplified example of how we create a peer connection
const peerConnection = new RTCPeerConnection({
    iceServers: [{ urls: 'stun:stun.l.google.com:19302' }]
});

// Create a data channel for file transfer
const dataChannel = peerConnection.createDataChannel('fileTransfer', {
    ordered: true  // Ensure chunks arrive in order
});
        

2. Signaling Process

Before two browsers can connect directly, they need to exchange some information. This is where our minimal signaling server comes in:

            Important: The signaling server only exchanges connection information (like "I'm at IP address X, you can reach me through port Y"). It never sees your actual files.
        

The signaling process involves:

Offer/Answer Exchange: Browsers negotiate connection capabilities
ICE Candidate Exchange: Finding the best network path
Connection Establishment: Direct P2P link is created

3. File Transfer Optimization

BurritoShare implements several optimizations for smooth file transfers:

Chunking: Files are split into 16KB chunks for efficient transmission
Backpressure Control: Prevents overwhelming the receiver's browser
Progress Tracking: Real-time updates on both ends
Stream-to-Disk (Chrome/Edge): Large files stream directly to disk without filling up RAM

Privacy & Security Benefits

Feature	Traditional Cloud Services	BurritoShare P2P
File Storage	Stored on company servers	Never stored anywhere
Encryption	Usually encrypted at rest	End-to-end encrypted in transit
Access Control	Company employees can access	Only sender and recipient
Data Retention	Often kept for months/years	Zero retention - direct transfer
Metadata Collection	Extensive tracking and analytics	Minimal - only bundle name and size

Common Questions About P2P

Is P2P file sharing legal?

Absolutely! P2P is just a technology for direct communication. It's like asking if phones are legal – the technology itself is perfectly legal, it's what you do with it that matters. BurritoShare is designed for legitimate file sharing between consenting parties.

Why do both people need to be online?

Since files transfer directly between browsers without server storage, both the sender and receiver need to be online – just like a phone call. This is the trade-off for absolute privacy and no file size limits.

What about NAT and firewalls?

WebRTC includes sophisticated NAT traversal techniques. Using STUN servers and ICE candidates, it can establish connections even through corporate firewalls and home routers. In rare cases where direct connection isn't possible, the transfer won't work – but your privacy is never compromised.

The Future of File Sharing

BurritoShare represents a return to the internet's original vision: direct, decentralized communication. By leveraging modern browser technologies, we're making file sharing:

Faster: Direct routes mean quicker transfers
More Private: Your data stays yours
Unlimited: No artificial size restrictions
Free: No server costs means no fees for users

Try it yourself! Next time you need to share a large file, experience the difference of true P2P transfer. Start sharing now →

Learn More

Interested in diving deeper into the technology?

P2P Technology Explained