Steam allows users to purchase computer games entirely digitally. Instead of receiving a box, disc, or even CD key, purchased software is immediately attached to the user's Steam account. Content can be downloaded from Steam servers unlimited times to any number of internet-connected computers that have the Steam client installed. Users who buy boxed games sold at retail stores must register the game on Steam with the included CD key, which will then be attached to the user's Steam account in the same way a digital purchase is, and act in every way like a digital copy. To play, users typically launch the game from the client's built-in list of currently installed games. Steam provides a server browser for users to search, filter, bookmark, and join internet and LAN servers for games that integrate with it. It can be accessed from the desktop and from an integrated game's menu system, and queries friends to show a list of servers to which a user's contacts are connected.
Steam automates the process of downloading the content and keeping it up to date for the user. All patches are downloaded as soon as they become available, and if there are multiple versions (e.g. a 64-bit edition), the correct one will be chosen automatically based on the computer's hardware and/or software environment. This process happens every time the user logs in, or a game is launched, ensuring that as many users as possible will have the latest software.
Steam transfers content over its own protocol, as opposed to the more common web protocols, such as HTTP and FTP. It downloads from a set of dedicated content servers spread out across the world, connecting to several at once to try to ensure a fast and stable connection. The servers are organized into geographic cells to help clients choose intelligently which to connect to.
Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC), Valve's proprietary anti-cheat system, is available for online game servers to use. On VAC-secured servers, it automatically detects users that connect to the server who are using third-party modifications to give themselves unfair advantages.
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