What is File Transfer Protocol? (FTP)

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files between a client and a server over a computer network, such as the internet. It facilitates the movement of data from one system to another. This allows users to upload, download, and manage files remotely. FTP operates on a client-server model where the client sends requests to the server to transfer files, and the server responds with the requested data or performs file operations.

In practical terms, FTP is commonly used by website developers to upload files to a web server or to download files from a server to their local machine. For example, a developer might use FTP to transfer website files (like HTML, CSS, or image files) to a server to make the website live. FTP typically operates on port 21 for commands and port 20 for data transfer, although variations like FTPS (FTP Secure) and SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) provide secure encrypted connections to protect the data being transferred.