What Is FTP?

FTP or File Transfer Protocol is a way to exchange files between computers over the Internet.

Simply put, you use FTP to transfer web files from your computer to your web server, which then serves your content to the web.

So whatever file you want to make visible on the Internet, you transfer it to your server via FTP.

But, FTP isn’t just about sending files from your computer to your server and making content visible on the internet, It’s also used to download files to your computer from the web.

As an example of FTP in action, lets say you want to download something to your hard drive, for you to receive the file, it has to be “Transferred” from the web, or the server hosting the file to you. Hence the term “File Transfer Protocol.”

But lets take a step back for a minute, before that file could be “Downloaded” by you, it first had to be “Uploaded” to the server by someone in the first place, this would of also been done using FTP. (Transferring Files)

Another example of FTP, is if you wanted to add a profile image to your social media account, Face-book, Twitter, etc… When you set up your profile you’re asked to choose an image from your Hard drive, then after clicking on the Upload button, you see your beautiful smiling face on the Internet, this is basically FTP in action.

One way you can access or transfer web files to your server is through your web browser, Usually your Web Host will provide FTP in the control panel of your webhosting account.

Another way to transfer files to your web server using FTP is by using a “FTP Client“, An excellent client that I use and recommend is one that’s free called “Filezilla“. You can grab your free “Filzilla FTP Client Here“

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