Bitcoin Forum

Recently, I have been trying to wrap my head around the word Rendezvous Routing and how it relates to the Lightning network. when I used my search engine, most of the results that i got were explanations to Rendezvous protocol and not routing. I began having a thought that: the Rendezvous Protocol is probably the source, or have a connection with the routing itself. from most of the explanations I got online, Rendezvous Protocol seems to be a term solely for Peer-to-Peer network, like this one below...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendezvous_protocol

Lightning Network on the other hand, have so many approaching definition that probably everyone can give while defining it. From what I've learnt so far, it is decentralized layer 2 solution that acts as payment channel, built on the Bitcoin blockchain. it is greatly recognized in solving/addressing the issue of scalability. whichever definition we all know as individuals, it's important to note that LN is primarily used for the fast transfer of Bitcoin off-chain, before broadcast is finally done on-chain.

It's not still clear to me how Rendezvous Protcol or routing relates in anyway with the LN, perhaps some of the BTT forum members might have an idea.

So my questions:
1. Is Rendezvous Protocol In anyway related to Rendezvous Routing ?
2. What's the answer to the thread title?
3. During the process of setting up(creating) payment channel, is there an application of the Rendezvous Protocol?.

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I am 100% open to correction as I still see myself as a learner. Pardon any of my error and share your personal opinion. You might want to also DYOR after reading this.

Yes they are related in a sense that they are both used to find a route to the destination. The difference is that rendezvous routing is used specifically to lightning network.
Lightning network uses rendezvous routing for the nodes to find each other and establish a route without having the lightning network to see a complete map of the network. Nodes only communicate through nearby nodes and that is how they get to the targeted destination.
The term rendezvous protocol is not often used when it comes to lightning network however the concept of paving a route through neighboring nodes is applied.

How does the the lightening network work?
1. A channel is opened by two parties
2. Transactions are  done within the channel
3. Payments done within the channel are routed (sent) to the desired destination.
4. Finally the channel is closed by either party in the lightning network.

Rendezvous routing is a slight twist on the way source routing works. In source routing, the originator of the payment (sender) decides the route the payment will take to get to the receiver. This is very straightforward and the most commonly used.

The Rendezvous routing method on the other hand allows payments reach the recipient but anonymously through the use of third party called the Rendezvous node or point. The Rendezvous routing solves some routing problems in the lightning network.  It solves the privacy problem and also makes private channels much more usable.

Note that, aside the source routing and Rendezvous routing method stated above, there are still other routing methods like Trampoline Routing and Multi-Path payment methods which can be used in the lightning network.

And yes, the Rendezvous Protocol is related to Rendezvous Routing.