A distributed system is a network of independent computers that work together to achieve a common goal. These computers communicate and coordinate their actions by passing messages to one another. This setup allows for better resource sharing, increased reliability, and improved performance compared to a single computer system. In a distributed system, tasks can be divided among multiple machines, enabling parallel processing. This means that if one computer fails, the system can continue to operate, as other computers can take over its tasks. Examples of distributed systems include cloud computing platforms and peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent.