Torrenting files may have a certain reputation, but torrents are simply a way of distributing data. Torrents transfer data over the BitTorrent protocol to facilitate decentralized, peer-to-peer file sharing.
This is why torrents are an accepted part of the free and open source software world. Many Linux distributions have limited server bandwidth available for downloads. Torrents allow users to get their hands on Linux distros more quickly and then help spread the software.
Link: The 5 Best Torrent Clients for Linux
via www.makeuseof.com