This SpringerBrief summarizes the development of Distributed Hash Table in both academic and industrial fields. It covers the main theory, platforms and applications of this key part in distributed systems and applications, especially in large-scale distributed environments. The authors teach the principles of several popular DHT platforms that can solve practical problems such as load balance, multiple replicas, consistency and latency. They also propose DHT-based applications including multicast, anycast, distributed file systems, search, storage, content delivery network, file sharing and communication. These platforms and applications are used in both academic and commercials fields, making Distributed Hash Table a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals.

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

Hao Zhang is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Labor Relations at the School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, where he has been a faculty member since 2017. He holds a PhD in International and Comparative Labor from Cornell University’s ILR School. His research focuses on labor relations and collective bargaining, work and employment in the digital economy, and skill development, with a particular emphasis on China. His work has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Journal of Industrial Relations, The China Quarterly, Management and Organization Review, and International Labour Review. He is co-author of Beyond the Iron Rice Bowl: Regimes of Production and Industrial Relations in China (Campus Verlag) and editor of China’s Labor Relations Development Report 2025 (in Chinese, China Labor and Social Security Publishing House). His research has informed policy initiatives in China, including those of the State Council, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Education, and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.

Inhalt
Introduction.- DHT Theory.- DHT Platforms.- DHT Applications.- Summary.