A download manager is a computer program dedicated to the task of downloading (and sometimes uploading) possibly unrelated stand-alone files from (and sometime to) the Internet for storage. Computer programs (also software programs, or just programs) are instructions for a Computer. To download is to receive data from a remote or central system such as a Webserver, FTP server, mail server or other similar systems To download is to receive data from a remote or central system such as a Webserver, FTP server, mail server or other similar systems The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks This is unlike a World Wide Web browser, which is mainly intended to browse web pages, composed of a multitude of smaller files, where error-free moving of files for permanent storage is of secondary importance. The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked Hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. A web browser is a software application which enables a user to display and interact with text images videos music games and other information typically located on a A web page or webpage is a resource of information that is suitable for the World Wide Web and can be accessed through a Web browser. (A failed or incomplete web page file rarely ruins the page. ) The typical download manager at a minimum provides means to recover from errors without losing the work already completed, and can optionally split the file to be downloaded (or uploaded) into 2 or more segments, which are then moved in parallel, potentially making the process faster within the limits of the available bandwidth. (A few servers are known to block moving files in parallel segments, on the principle that server capacity should be shared equally by all users. ) Multi-source is the name given to files that are downloaded in parallel. Multi-source, as it applies to Downloading Data, or files from the Internet, is a method of decreasing download time for large files by getting data from

Features

Download managers commonly include one or more of the following features:

• Pausing the downloading of large files. To download is to receive data from a remote or central system such as a Webserver, FTP server, mail server or other similar systems
• Resuming broken or paused downloads (especially for very large files).
• Downloading files on poor connections.
• Downloading several files from a site automatically according to simple rules (file types, updated files, etc. - see also Offline Browser).
• Automatic recursive downloads (mirroring).
• Scheduled downloads (including, automatic hang-up and shutdown).
• Searching for mirror sites, and the handling of different connections to download the same file more quickly (segmented downloading). In Computing, a mirror is an exact copy of a Data set On the Internet, a mirror site is an exact copy of another Internet site Segmented downloading (also known as multisource downloading swarming download can be a more efficient way of Downloading files from many peers at once

Download managers are useful for active Internet users. For dial-up users, they can automatically dial the internet service provider at night, when rates or tariffs are usually lower, download the specified files, and hang-up. Dial-up Internet Access is a form of Internet access via Telephone lines The user's computer or Router uses an attached Modem connected to a An Internet service provider ( ISP, also called Internet access provider or IAP) is a company which primarily offers their customers access to the Internet They can record which links the user clicks on during the day, and queue these files for later download. For broadband users, download managers can help download very large files by resuming broken downloads, by limiting the bandwidth used, so that other internet activities are not affected (slowed) and the server is not overloaded, or by automatically navigating a site and downloading pre-specified content (photo galleries, MP3 collections, etc. ) this can also include automatically downloading whole sites and regularly updating them (see Mirroring). In Computing, a mirror is an exact copy of a Data set On the Internet, a mirror site is an exact copy of another Internet site

Many download managers support Metalink, an XML file listing mirrors, checksums, and other information useful for downloading. Metalink is a cross-platform and cross-application open standard/framework/file format for programs that download including Download managers BitTorrent

Adware

Download managers, such as Go!Zilla, were among the first adware applications displaying a banner ad in the user interface. Go!Zilla is a proprietary Download manager originally developed by Radiate in 1995 for use on Windows. Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays displays or downloads advertisements A banner is a Flag or other piece of cloth bearing a symbol logo slogan or other message

Related applications

Related to download managers are two other breeds of Internet programs, file-sharing peer-to-peer applications (Kazaa, eMule, BitTorrent, Gnutella) and stream recorders (such as StreamBox VCR). For other uses of the term see Peer-to-peer (disambiguation For peer-to-peer networks used for file sharing see File sharing Kazaa Media Desktop (once capitalized as " KaZaA " but now usually written " Kazaa " is a Peer-to-peer File sharing application eMule is a free Peer-to-peer file sharing application for Microsoft Windows. BitTorrent is a Peer-to-peer File sharing protocol used to distribute large amounts of Data. Gnutella (nʊˈtɛlə with a silent g, or alternatively /gnʊˈtɛlə/ is a File sharing network Stream recorder, also called a stream ripper, is a Computer program capable of saving a Data stream – particularly Streaming media such as

While download managers are designed to give users greater control over downloads, some downloaders are created to give that control to content distributors instead. Some software companies, for example Adobe [1], provide such downloaders for downloading software on their own site. Presumably this increases reliability and reduces tech support costs to them. A possible reason is increasing the control over redistribution of their software (even when the software is freeware). Freeware is computer Software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee

See also

• List of download managers
• Comparison of download managers
• Offline browsing

External links

• Review of download managers (this article is from 2003)