PIM Sparse Mode (Protocol Independent Multicast Sparse Mode) is a multicast routing protocol designed for efficient data distribution in networks with sparse group members. It minimizes bandwidth usage by only sending multicast traffic to routers that have active receivers, rather than flooding the entire network. This is particularly useful in scenarios where multicast group members are widely dispersed. In PIM Sparse Mode, routers use a shared tree structure to manage multicast traffic. When a receiver joins a multicast group, it sends a join message to the nearest rendezvous point (RP), which then facilitates the distribution of data. This approach helps optimize network resources and improves overall performance.