Definition of ftp software

File transfer protocol is one of many different protocols that dictate how computers and computing systems behave on the internet. Other such protocols include the:. FTP enables computers on the internet to transfer files back and forth. As such, it is an essential tool for those building and maintaining websites today. Individual FTP clients provide different features that allow users to modify the way they upload and download files.

For instance, if you use FileZilla, the program lets you set bandwidth limits for files. This enables you to control upload and download speeds, which can be helpful if you manage multiple file transfers at once.

Other features you may want to look for in an FTP client include public-key authentication, the ability to set file compression levels, or tools that enable you to search a server using file masks.

FTP software is relatively straightforward to set up. FileZilla is a free, downloadable FTP client. Type in the address of the server you wish to access, the port, and the password for accessing the server. Once access has been granted, the user's files on their local system as well as the accessed server will be visible.

The user can download files from the server to the local system, or upload files from the local system to the server. They can also make changes to files on the server, as long as they have the proper authorization to do so. Hostinger Tutorials. FTP Today. Automated Investing.

Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. It is a set of commands that establishes the connection between two hosts, helps to transfer the files, and then closes the connection.

Some of the commands are: get filename retrieve the file from server , mget filename retrieve multiple files from the server , ls lists files available in the current directory of the server. There are also built-in FTP programs, which makes it easier to transfer files and it does not require remembering the commands. Skip to content. Change Language. Related Articles. Table of Contents. Improve Article. Save Article. Like Article. Previous Why Thread. FTP was one of the first technologies developed to solve this common need, and it remains—with several generations of enhancements—the second most popular protocol used today after HTTP, or the "World Wide Web".

FTP finds application in many day-to-day business operations spanning business-to-business and peer-to-peer data transfer use cases:. The FTP client acts as the communication agent to interact with the server and download or upload files. Upon listening to the request from the client to either upload or download a file, the FTP server performs the file transfer operation.

They now come in easy-to-use, intuitive interfaces to facilitate and simplify file transfers. In an active FTP connection, the client opens a port and listens while the server actively connects to it. In a passive connection, the server opens a port and listens passively, which allows clients to connect to it.

This is a more reliable method, and it avoids inbound connections from the internet back into individual clients. In firewalled deployments, all connections are made from the internet to the server, not from the server back to the internet.

Passive mode is also known as "firewall-friendly" mode.