Description: A multicast group is a set of hosts that listen to the same multicast address. This concept is fundamental in computer networks as it allows for efficient data transmission to multiple recipients without the need to send individual copies of the information to each one. Instead of a sender sending data to each receiver unidirectionally, multicast allows a single data stream to be sent to a specific group of devices that have expressed interest in receiving that information. This is achieved through the use of multicast IP addresses, which are different from unicast addresses (one recipient) and broadcast addresses (all recipients on the network). Multicast groups are particularly useful in applications such as video conferencing, audio and video streaming, and software updates, where efficiency in data transmission is crucial. Additionally, the use of multicast groups reduces the load on the network by minimizing the bandwidth used by avoiding sending multiple copies of the same data. In the context of routing protocols, multicast groups are used for communication between devices, allowing them to exchange information efficiently and quickly, which improves network convergence and stability.
