Multicast
Multicast is a communication method used in computer networks to send data from one source to multiple destinations simultaneously. Unlike unicast, which sends data to a single recipient, multicast allows efficient use of bandwidth by transmitting a single copy of the data to multiple users who have expressed interest in receiving it. This is commonly used in applications like video conferencing and streaming media.
In multicast, data is sent to a specific group address, and only devices that join this group can receive the information. This technique is often implemented using protocols such as Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) and Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) to manage group memberships and routing.