File Transfer Service

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard Internet protocol for transmitting files between computers on the Internet over TCP/IP connections.

FTP is a client-server protocol that relies on two communications channels between client and server: a command channel for controlling the conversation and a data channel for transmitting file content. Clients initiate conversations with servers by requesting to download a file. Using FTP, a client can upload, download, delete, rename, move and copy files on a server. A user typically needs to log on to the FTP server, although some servers make some or all of their content available without login, also known as anonymous FTP.

FTP sessions work in passive or active modes. In active mode, after a client initiates a session via a command channel request, the server initiates a data connection back to the client and begins transferring data. In passive mode, the server instead uses the command channel to send the client the information it needs to open a data channel. Because passive mode has the client initiating all connections, it works well across firewalls and Network Address Translation (NAT) gateways.

Active FTP and passive FTP compared

FTP was originally defined in 1971, prior to the definition of TCP and IP, and has been redefined many times -- e.g., to use TCP/IP (RFC 765 and RFC 959), and then Internet Procotol Version 6 (IPv6), (RFC 2428). Also, because it was defined without much concern for security, it has been extended many times to improve security: for example, versions that encrypt via a TLS connection (FTPS) or that work with Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), also known as SSH File Transfer Protocol.

Users can work with FTP via a simple command line interface (for example, from a console or terminal window in Microsoft Windows, Apple OS X or Linux ) or with a dedicated graphical user interface (GUI). Web browsers can also serve as FTP clients.

Although a lot of file transfer is now handled using HTTP, FTP is still commonly used to transfer files "behind the scenes" for other applications -- e.g., hidden behind the user interfaces of banking, a service that helps build a website, such as Wix or SquareSpace, or other services. It is also used, via Web browsers, to download new applications.