Napster is a company that makes software that combines chat features and a music player and lets users share their MP3 libraries with each other.
Its software aims to make finding MP3 files easier on the Internet. No files are actually hosted on Napster servers as Napster provides access to music files on others' computers.
In addition to its search features, Napster contains three major components:
A chat program to enable users to chat with each other in forums based on music genre.
An audio player to play MP3 files from right inside Napster, in the event that users do not have an external player or prefer not to use one.
A tracking program to allow users to keep track of their favorite MP3 libraries for later browsing.
Napster was founded by John Fanning and his 18-year-old nephew, Shawn Fanning, who wrote the program code.