Multicast
Multicast is a network communication method where data is sent from one sender to multiple receivers simultaneously, using a single transmission over the network. It efficiently distributes data to a group of interested devices, reducing bandwidth usage compared to unicast (one-to-one) or broadcast (one-to-all) methods. This is commonly used in applications like video streaming, online gaming, and software updates.
Developers should learn multicast when building applications that require efficient one-to-many or many-to-many data distribution, such as live video broadcasting, IoT device management, or financial trading systems. It's essential for optimizing network performance in scenarios where the same data needs to reach multiple endpoints without overwhelming the network with redundant traffic.