Seeding is a term used in computing, specifically in peer-to-peer file sharing, where it refers to the uploading of already downloaded content for others to download from). When a peer, a computer that is connected to the network, has acquired the entire set of data, it becomes a seed by offering its upload bandwidth to other peers attempting to download the file). Seeding is a practice within peer-to-peer file sharing, a content distribution model that connects computers with the use of a peer-to-peer (P2P) software program in order to share desired content).

In the context of peer-to-peer file sharing, seeding is important to keep the file being shared in circulation and to not act as a parasite). The motivation to seed is mainly to keep the file being shared in circulation, as there is no central hub to continue uploading in the absence of peer seeders). The opposite of a seed is a leech, a peer that downloads more than they upload).

In online marketing, seeding is a tactic by which you create and distribute content across the web to attract your target customers. Seeding is an online marketing tactic that seamlessly combines the advertising message with humans, making it a much more humanized form of advertising. Seeding content creators can be a thought leader, an expert, an influencer, or an ordinary consumer, and they are responsible for contributing information to social media.

In torrenting, seeding is the process of sharing the full copy of the file to users (leechers) with only a partial copy of the content. Once a leecher successfully downloads the entire torrent content and decides to stay in the torrent swarm to continue sharing the content with the rest, it evolves into a seeder. The seeding ratio or sharing ratio is a critical number for keeping torrents alive, and it represents the relationship between your upload and download speeds.