Leeching refers to the process of extracting resources or benefits from a system or individual without giving anything in return. This term is often used in various contexts, such as in online gaming, where players may exploit others for in-game advantages, or in social situations where someone may take advantage of another's generosity. In the context of computer networks, leeching can describe the act of downloading files from a peer-to-peer network without contributing any files back. This behavior can lead to an imbalance in resource sharing, as it relies on the contributions of others while offering nothing in exchange.