FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a standard protocol used for transferring files over a network, particularly over the Internet. FTP allows users to transfer files from one host computer to another.
The basic FTP system consists of a client and a server. The FTP client is the software running on the user's computer that initiates file transfers, while the FTP server is the software running on the host computer that provides or receives the files.
FTP supports various operating modes, including active mode and passive mode. In active mode, the client initiates a connection to the server, while in passive mode, the server establishes a connection to the client. Passive mode is often used when the client is behind a firewall.
Users can authenticate themselves with FTP servers to gain read or write access to specific directories. There are also secure variants like FTPS (FTP Secure) and SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) that use encryption technologies to ensure the security of the transmissions.
FTP is used for various purposes, including uploading files to a web server, downloading software updates, and general file exchange over the Internet.
