Distributed computing is the sharing of computing tasks among multiple connected computers. There are several forms of distributed computing, representing the different ways in which computer networks may be used. A computer network is a group of computers interconnected to share information or resources.
In the most basic form of distributed computing, only computer files pass between connected computers. Users can easily share data, but each computer does all its own processing. For example, a user might write a report on one computer connected to the network. Another user could then access the report and work with it on a different computer connected to the network.
At the next level of distributed computing, a single computer performs processing tasks for other computers connected to the network. A common example is the housing of both a database (organized body of computerized information) and the database management system in a central computer. When users on connected computers want to access the database, they send a request to the central computer. The central computer processes the request and returns the results. One advantage of this type of distributed computing is that it may reduce the amount of data that travels between computers. In the example, only the request and the results flow between computers.
In an advanced form of distributed computing, special software divides a computing job into a number of tasks and assigns each task to one of the computers on the network. As each computer completes its task, the software combines the results.
In another approach to distributed computing, copies of frequently used material are kept on several computers. When one computer receives an increasing number of demands for the material, subsequent demands are routed to the other computers. This strategy ensures that the material is accessible even at times of heavy demand. Information on the Internet is often distributed this way.
Both small and large networks distribute information and resources to locations across the network. Thus, while not every computer on the network possesses all of the resources, every computer can have access to the resources.
See also Computer network.
