Magnet is another protocol or method by which files can be accessed and downloaded in a peer to peer network, similar to ones used by software like torrents. In fact torrents themselves are accessible through such magnet links.

But unlike a torrent files, these don’t actually have a torrent file as a requirement to locate the files to be downloaded. Instead they are similar to download links used to access files from a FTP. In essence magnet links are simply URI’s which point to the location of files and also provide additional information like who is the tracker of the file and what is the correct size of the file , the hash values associated with them etc.

This is beneficial to the user because it is not longer required that the user should start the torrent with a torrent file.