What is a torrent file?

A torrent file is a small metadata file used by BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing protocol. Unlike traditional downloads where files come from a single server, BitTorrent distributes the load across multiple users (peers) who share pieces of the file simultaneously. The torrent file itself doesn't contain the actual content—instead, it holds essential information about the files to be shared and how to locate other peers.

Torrent files use a format called Bencode (pronounced "bee-encode"), which stores structured data including file names, sizes, piece hashes for integrity verification, and tracker URLs that help coordinate connections between peers. The "info hash" is a unique identifier generated from the torrent's metadata, acting like a fingerprint that identifies the specific content across the entire BitTorrent network.

How does BitTorrent work?

When you open a torrent file in a BitTorrent client, the software:

  1. Contacts trackers - Servers listed in the torrent file that maintain lists of peers sharing the content
  2. Discovers peers - Finds other users who have complete or partial copies of the files
  3. Downloads pieces - Retrieves small chunks of the file from multiple peers simultaneously
  4. Verifies integrity - Uses SHA-1 hashes stored in the torrent to ensure each piece is correct
  5. Shares back - Uploads pieces you've downloaded to other users (seeding)

This distributed approach makes downloads faster and more resilient, as there's no single point of failure.

Tool description

This tool reads and analyzes torrent files directly in your browser, extracting and displaying all metadata without requiring a BitTorrent client. Simply upload a .torrent file to view comprehensive details including file listings, tracker information, piece data, and automatically generated magnet links.

Examples

Input: A torrent file for a Linux distribution ISO

Output:

  • Name: ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso
  • Info Hash: 2b66980093bc11806fab50cb3cb41835b95a0362
  • Total Size: 5.7 GB
  • File Count: 1
  • Piece Size: 4 MB
  • Piece Count: 1,425
  • Created Date: 4/25/2024, 10:30:00 AM
  • Created By: mktorrent 1.1
  • Comment: Ubuntu CD releases.ubuntu.com
  • Private: No
  • Trackers: https://torrent.ubuntu.com/announce, https://ipv6.torrent.ubuntu.com/announce
  • Magnet Link: magnet:?xt=urn:btih:2b66980093bc11806fab50cb3cb41835b95a0362&dn=ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso&tr=...

Features

  • Complete metadata extraction - View all torrent information including name, info hash, creation date, creator software, and comments
  • File listing with sizes - Browse all files contained in the torrent with human-readable file sizes and sortable columns
  • Tracker list display - See all announce URLs used to discover peers
  • Automatic magnet link generation - Instantly create magnet URIs for sharing without the original torrent file
  • One-click copying - Copy any field value to clipboard including info hash and magnet links

Use cases

  • Verify torrent contents before downloading - Check file names, sizes, and structure to ensure the torrent contains what you expect before committing to a download
  • Extract magnet links from torrent files - Convert downloaded .torrent files into magnet links for easier sharing or use with clients that prefer magnet URIs
  • Analyze torrent metadata for troubleshooting - Inspect piece sizes, tracker lists, and creation details when diagnosing download issues or verifying torrent integrity
  • Archive torrent information - Document and save metadata from torrent files for record-keeping without needing to store the actual content