Definition, synonyms and related words
The simultaneous transmission of data to several destinations on a network.
"The network administrator configured the router to multicast the video stream so that multiple devices could receive it simultaneously without duplicating bandwidth usage."
In plain English: Multicast is when data is sent to many specific people at once instead of just one person or everyone everywhere.
"The network engineer adjusted the multicast to ensure all classroom computers received the lecture video simultaneously."
Having multiple targets, such that a call to the delegate triggers a call to each target.
"The system uses multicast so that when the button is clicked, every registered listener receives the notification simultaneously."
In plain English: Multicast describes sending data to many specific people at once instead of broadcasting it to everyone.
"The multicast software update was sent to every device on our local network at once."
Usage: Use this term primarily in computer networking or software development when describing data sent simultaneously to multiple specific recipients rather than all users. Avoid using it for general broadcasting scenarios where the message is intended for an entire group without individual targeting.
Multicast is a blend of the words multiple and broadcast. It was coined to describe sending data simultaneously to several specific recipients rather than everyone on a network.