What is File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a crucial element in sending and receiving files, which we often do. But what is FTP more broadly? And what are its functions besides receiving and sending files?

Here is a comprehensive explanation of FTP that you can use as a guide.
 

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a protocol or method of transferring files between computers over the internet. FTP works by connecting an FTP client to an FTP server. The client can then upload and download files from the server.

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This protocol makes it easy for anyone to access large amounts of data with guaranteed security. FTP is often used to transfer files for website needs from a computer to a hosting server or to download software updates and other large files.

Businesses use this protocol to share confidential information with employees or customers. It is also the first choice when people want to move data from one computer to another quickly and securely.
 

As mentioned earlier, FTP works when you want to send large amounts of files or data quickly and securely. The FTP protocol provides authentication so only authorized users can access specific files or directories. FTP also supports encryption to protect sensitive information during data exchange. Overall, the FTP protocol is essential for transferring data securely over a network, and businesses or individuals widely use it.
 

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a popular method of transferring data between computers. FTP offers many advantages over other data transfer methods.

For one, the FTP protocol can help you send large files quickly. FTP allows users to send large files without worrying about the load on their system.

FTP also has a secure system. You usually need to go through an authentication process to access the sent files to ensure that only authorized people can access them.

Finally, FTP is relatively easy to use and configure, allowing even novice users to set up and manage their file transfers quickly.

Overall, FTP provides an excellent way for users to transfer large amounts of data quickly and securely with minimal effort.
 

As one of the oldest and most widely used internet protocols, FTP has drawbacks you should know.

One of the significant drawbacks of FTP is that it does not provide any security for the transferred data. All data sent via FTP is unencrypted, meaning anyone accessing the network can intercept and view the data.

Also, since FTP is designed for transferring files rather than streaming data, it can be slow when transferring large amounts of information.

Finally, FTP requires a dedicated server to function correctly, which can be expensive and time-consuming to set up and maintain. Despite these drawbacks, FTP remains essential to many organizations' IT infrastructure due to its reliability and wide acceptance.
 

FTP generally uses TCP port 21. However, if you have determined the hostname for your FTP Server, then to access it, enter the hostname in the URL Address bar in the browser used and add ftp:// before the hostname. So that it will appear as follows: [ftp://hostname.com]

You can also use FTP for remote servers where users can access the website without logging into a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or hosting.

For those who need to learn how to use FTP on a Linux-based operating system, you can access this guide to use FTP.