===== Point-to-Point =====
[[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:start| Return to Glossary ]]


**Point-to-point** is the simplest [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:c:communications_model|model of communication]], as illustrated in Figure 1; it is a model of one-to-one communications. The telephone is an example of an everyday point-to-point communications device. To use a telephone, you must know the address (phone number) of the other party. Once a connection is established, you can have a reasonably high-[[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:b:bandwidth|bandwidth]] conversation. However, the telephone does not work as well if you have to talk to many people at the same time. The telephone is essentially one-to-one communication.
<figure>
{{  :dido:public:ra:xapend.glossary:p:p2p.png?200  |}}
<caption>Point-to-Point Communication Model</caption>
</figure>

[[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:t:tcp]] is a point-to-point network [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:p:protocol]] designed in the 1970s. While it provides reliable, high bandwidth communication, TCP is cumbersome for systems with many communicating nodes.

Source: [[https://community.rti.com/glossary/point-point]]