Centralization

Centralization refers to the concentration or consolidation of data, resources, control, or services within a single system, server, or entity. It involves the idea of having a central authority or central point of control that manages or governs a system.

Various central authorities exist on the Internet. One specific example is the Domain Name System (DNS), where there is only a handful of root name servers responsible for providing the authoritative name servers for top-level domains.

Another example of centralization is the certificate authorities that are responsible issuing digital certificates that are used to secure a website, by authenticating it, and ensuring privacy.

Another example of centralization are the central BitTorrent trackers that are intended to help a computer locate other peers, so that the computer can then become a peer in the peer-to-peer network.

More ostesible examples of centralized services are Instagram and Twitter. Neither Instagram nor Twitter can interact with each other, and no user can they directly communicate, without an individual or organization being forced to create an account on both platforms.

The idea of "centralization" runs in stark contrast to "decentralization", where rather than one entity being in control of the entire service, it is instead distributed between different independent units that each collaborate and interoprate to achieve a common goal, without the need for an active central authority.

In certain Internet subcultures, the word "centralization" is sometimes used as a pejorative, as a pushback on certain centralized service providers that some people fear that these service actors may not act in their best interests.