What is FTP?

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, which is simply a method of transferring files on the Internet. Using FTP, you can both send (upload) and receive (download) files to and from FTP sites on the Internet. Using FTP, the files you send and receive can be anything from text documents, pictures, sounds, and even software programs.

You can use FTP with your Web browser, or you can use an FTP client program. In either case, an FTP address starts out with "ftp://". For example, the address of an FTP site at Americus.net is ftp://home.americus.net/username.

FTP Glossary

Anonymous FTP
A method of transferring files to or from the publicly accessible section of an FTP site. Using anonymous ftp means you don't have to have an account on that site. You simply enter the username "anonymous" and your e-mail address when it asks for a password.

Archive
An FTP site that holds large collections of files available for download. Also, a file that is used to contain other files.

Binary - FTP
A computer file that contains binary information (ones and zeroes) and is readable by a computer; such as a sound file, picture, or computer program. Also, the FTP setting for the transfer of binary files.

Client
A computer or program that processes information or does tasks by sending requests and receiving information from a server (a computer in another location that is set up to do a particular set of tasks). For example, an e-mail client would connect to an e-mail server to send and receive e-mail messages.

Download
To receive files from a computer somewhere else (like a server) onto your computer. Also, a file that has been so transferred.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
An abbreviation for File Transfer Protocol, which is an agreed-upon method for transferring files between computers on the Internet. Also, the act of transferring files using FTP. FTP addresses begin with "ftp://", as opposed to Web addresses, which begin with "http://".

FTP site
A server with an address on the Internet that has been set up to use FTP to store and transfer files.

INDEX
Often the name of the text file in a directory that is the "key" that describes the contents of the files. Other useful text files to look for might be named README or welcome.

Mirror
An FTP site that has been set up to duplicate exactly the contents of another site. That way, traffic can be divided between the mirror sites and the original, making downloads faster for everyone.

Path
The route you take down directories and sub-directories to get to the files you want (e.g. /pub/mac/utilities/compression/).

Put
The FTP command for "putting" or uploading files from your computer to a server.

Server
A computer that processes information or does tasks by handling requests from client computers. For example, a file server is a computer on which files are stored, so that users can transfer files to and from the server.

Upload
To send files from your computer to somewhere else (like a server). Also, a file that has been so transferred.