Which term describes a network in which devices communicate with each other directly without a central server?

• A. Client/Server
• B. SOHO Network
• C. Cloud
• D. Peer-to-Peer

Answer: (D)

Direct device-to-device communication without a central server describes a peer-to-peer network. In this model each node can act as both a client and a server, sharing files, resources, or services directly with other peers. There isn’t a single server coordinating everything; control and data flow are distributed across the network. This differs from a client/server setup, where clients rely on a central server for services, and from cloud-based solutions that host resources in centralized data centers accessed remotely. Peer-to-peer networks excel at distributing workload and avoiding a single point of failure, but they can encounter traversal challenges when devices are behind NATs or firewalls, and performance depends on the number and reliability of participating peers.