{"id":887,"date":"2023-10-29T16:52:31","date_gmt":"2023-10-29T16:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/?p=887"},"modified":"2026-06-07T14:08:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T14:08:32","slug":"ftp-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"FTP Meaning: What Is File Transfer Protocol &amp; How It Works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>FTP meaning is File Transfer Protocol<\/strong>. It\u2019s an internet TCP protocol, used to <strong>transfer files between one client computer to a server<\/strong>. Widely used to publish websites, transfer images, backups or any kind of files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abhay Bhushan, an MIT student, developed the FTP protocol in the 70s. Abhay created this protocol to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-file-transfer\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">transfer files<\/a> between servers and hosts on ARPANET Network. ARPANET,&nbsp;after some years,&nbsp;originated the internet. In other words, the Internet is an evolution of this network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#How_FTP_works\" title=\"How FTP works\">How FTP works<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#Ftp_meaning_What_is_SFTP\" title=\"Ftp meaning: What is SFTP\">Ftp meaning: What is SFTP<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#Is_FTP_secure\" title=\"Is FTP secure?\">Is FTP secure?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#Meaning_of_FTP_Clients\" title=\"Meaning of FTP Clients\">Meaning of FTP Clients<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#_The_most_popular_FTP_clients\" title=\"&nbsp;The most popular FTP clients\">&nbsp;The most popular FTP clients<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#FTP_Commands\" title=\"FTP Commands\">FTP Commands<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#A_Brief_History_of_the_FTP_Protocol\" title=\"A Brief History of the FTP Protocol\">A Brief History of the FTP Protocol<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#The_TCPIP_Era\" title=\"The TCP\/IP Era\">The TCP\/IP Era<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#Frequently_asked_questions_about_FTP\" title=\"Frequently asked questions about FTP\">Frequently asked questions about FTP<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-meaning\/#Conclusion_about_FTP_meaning\" title=\"Conclusion about FTP meaning\">Conclusion about FTP meaning<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_FTP_works\"><\/span>How FTP works<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Basically, FTP involves a server and a client. The server delivers files to the client, where the client can download and upload files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>first step is configuring your client, placing the host, login, password of the Server<\/strong>. This protocol typically used TCP port 21 for communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After configuring the credentials, <strong>the client will connect to the FTP server<\/strong> and make a \u201chandshake\u201d. So they confirm the connection. The Client can list files, get files or put files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An FTP server can be either authenticated, with a username and password, or anonymous. With anonymous FTP, there&#8217;s no requirement for a login to gain access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are many free and anonymous FTP hosts available. For example, public FTP hosts provides Linux distributions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"What is FTP? | File Transfer Protocol | FTP Meaning | FTP Server | SFTP FTPS | Anonymous FTP\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r7b5oQmDWD0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ftp_meaning_What_is_SFTP\"><\/span>Ftp meaning: What is SFTP<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A similar protocol, but different, is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/sftp-vs-ftps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SFTP<\/a>. This is a Secure Shell (SSH file transfer protocol) based protocol. SFTP is a protocol where the client encrypts the connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So that protects both the client and server from data theft. As a conclusion, this is a big advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To work, it requires an SSH server, which is different from a standard FTP Server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, it&#8217;s important to differ SFTP and FTP meaning. As we have clarified, SFTP is not actually an FTP protocol. SFTP is, in fact, the SSH protocol, visually adapted to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/cpanel-file-manager\/\">file manager<\/a> screen. Similar to an FTP Client, but within a secure pathway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"overflow-x:auto; margin:28px 0; font-family:inherit;\">\n<table style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:14px; min-width:560px;\">\n  <thead>\n    <tr>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left; padding:14px 12px; width:22%; border-bottom:2px solid #ddd; color:#666;\">Feature<\/th>\n      <th style=\"text-align:center; padding:14px 12px; width:26%; border-bottom:3px solid #BA7517;\">\n        <div style=\"display:flex; flex-direction:column; align-items:center; gap:6px;\">\n          <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#854F0B\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M5 19a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V6a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h4l3 3h7a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v1\"\/><path d=\"M3.5 19l2.3-6.5A1 1 0 0 1 6.7 12H21l-2.3 6.5a1 1 0 0 1-.9.5H4\"\/><\/svg>\n          <span style=\"font-weight:600; color:#854F0B;\">FTP<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/th>\n      <th style=\"text-align:center; padding:14px 12px; width:26%; border-bottom:3px solid #3B6D11;\">\n        <div style=\"display:flex; flex-direction:column; align-items:center; gap:6px;\">\n          <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#3B6D11\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M12 3a12 12 0 0 0 8.5 3A12 12 0 0 1 12 21 12 12 0 0 1 3.5 6 12 12 0 0 0 12 3\"\/><rect x=\"9\" y=\"11\" width=\"6\" height=\"5\" rx=\"1\"\/><path d=\"M10.5 11V9.5a1.5 1.5 0 0 1 3 0V11\"\/><\/svg>\n          <span style=\"font-weight:600; color:#3B6D11;\">SFTP<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/th>\n      <th style=\"text-align:center; padding:14px 12px; width:26%; border-bottom:3px solid #185FA5;\">\n        <div style=\"display:flex; flex-direction:column; align-items:center; gap:6px;\">\n          <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#185FA5\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><rect x=\"3\" y=\"11\" width=\"18\" height=\"11\" rx=\"2\"\/><path d=\"M7 11V7a5 5 0 0 1 10 0v4\"\/><path d=\"M9.5 16l1.5 1.5 3-3\"\/><\/svg>\n          <span style=\"font-weight:600; color:#185FA5;\">FTPS<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/th>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/thead>\n  <tbody>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; color:#666;\">Full name<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\">File Transfer Protocol<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\">SSH File Transfer Protocol<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\">FTP Secure (FTP over SSL\/TLS)<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; color:#666;\">Based on<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\">Original FTP standard<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\">SSH protocol<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\">FTP + SSL\/TLS layer<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; color:#666;\">Default port<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><strong>21<\/strong> (+ 20 for data)<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><strong>22<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><strong>21<\/strong> \/ 990 (implicit)<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; color:#666;\">Encryption<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><span style=\"color:#A32D2D;\">&#10005; None (plain text)<\/span><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><span style=\"color:#3B6D11;\">&#10003; Full (SSH)<\/span><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><span style=\"color:#3B6D11;\">&#10003; Full (SSL\/TLS)<\/span><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; color:#666;\">Single connection<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><span style=\"color:#A32D2D;\">&#10005; Uses two<\/span><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><span style=\"color:#3B6D11;\">&#10003; Yes<\/span><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><span style=\"color:#A32D2D;\">&#10005; Uses two<\/span><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; color:#666;\">Firewall-friendly<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><span style=\"color:#A32D2D;\">&#10005; Often problematic<\/span><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><span style=\"color:#3B6D11;\">&#10003; Easy (one port)<\/span><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\"><span style=\"color:#BA7517;\">~ Needs config<\/span><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; color:#666;\">Authentication<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\">User \/ password<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\">Password or SSH keys<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee; text-align:center;\">User \/ password + certificates<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; color:#666;\">Best for<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; text-align:center;\">Legacy \/ internal use only<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; text-align:center;\">Secure transfers (recommended)<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:12px; text-align:center;\">Compliance with FTP systems<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_FTP_secure\"><\/span>Is FTP secure?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When FTP was designed in the 1970s, security was not a concern \u2014 the early network connected a handful of trusted research computers. That legacy still shows today: plain FTP performs no encryption whatsoever, so credentials and file contents travel across the network in readable form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On a shared or public network, this makes FTP vulnerable to packet sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks. For this reason, the industry has largely moved to its secure successors. SFTP encrypts the connection through SSH (the same protocol behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/port-22\/\">port 22<\/a>), while FTPS adds an SSL\/TLS layer on top of traditional FTP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, plain FTP should be reserved for non-sensitive transfers on trusted internal networks only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"display:flex; gap:14px; background:#FCEBEB; border:1px solid #F3B5B5; border-left:3px solid #A32D2D; border-radius:12px; padding:16px 18px; margin:24px 0; font-family:inherit;\">\n  <svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#A32D2D\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" style=\"flex-shrink:0;\"><path d=\"M12 3a12 12 0 0 0 8.5 3A12 12 0 0 1 12 21 12 12 0 0 1 3.5 6 12 12 0 0 0 12 3\"\/><path d=\"M9.5 9.5l5 5M14.5 9.5l-5 5\"\/><\/svg>\n  <div>\n    <div style=\"font-weight:600; font-size:15px; color:#7A1F1F; margin-bottom:4px;\">Security warning: plain FTP is no longer recommended<\/div>\n    <div style=\"font-size:14px; color:#A32D2D; line-height:1.6;\">Standard FTP sends your username, password, and files as unencrypted plain text. Anyone monitoring the network can intercept them. For any sensitive data \u2014 or really any modern transfer \u2014 use SFTP or FTPS instead, which encrypt the entire session. Most hosting providers, including Copahost, support secure transfers by default.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Meaning_of_FTP_Clients\"><\/span>Meaning of FTP Clients<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In order to access an FTP server, you need <strong>a FTP client<\/strong>. Following that, just input the FTP host, username, and password. Usually, the FTP port is 21. Some servers can work on different ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With an FTP&nbsp;Client, the user can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/php-upload-multiple-files\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">upload or download files<\/a> to a server. This is a simple software that you can install on your PC. Then, you&nbsp;must place the server hostname, login, and password and click Connect.&nbsp;Afterward, you are ready to send and receive files from the server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are many nice and free FTP clients available for Windows. There are also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/ftp-online-cpanel-web-ftp-client\/\">Web FTP Clients<\/a>&nbsp;like cPanel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/filezilla-project.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">FileZilla<\/a> is the most used, complete and robust FTP client. This is an open-source software under the GPL license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"781\" height=\"677\" src=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/blog-ftp-meaning-ftp-client-filezilla.jpg\" alt=\"ftp meaning\" class=\"wp-image-888\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coffeecup.com\/free-ftp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CoffeeCup<\/a> Free FTP is also a nice option. It&#8217;s free as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1147\" height=\"529\" src=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/blog-ftp-meaning-ftp-client-freeftp.jpg\" alt=\"Coffee cup ftp\" class=\"wp-image-890\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_The_most_popular_FTP_clients\"><\/span>&nbsp;The most popular FTP clients<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/filezilla-project.org\/\">FileZilla<\/a><\/strong>: FileZilla is a free and open-source FTP client available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers a user-friendly interface, supports FTP, FTPS, and SFTP protocols, and provides features like drag-and-drop file transfers, site manager for saving connection details, and remote file editing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/winscp.net\/eng\/download.php\">WinSCP<\/a><\/strong>: WinSCP is a free and open-source FTP client for Windows. It supports FTP, SFTP, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/scp-for-directory\/\">SCP<\/a> protocols and provides a dual-pane interface for easy file transfer and synchronization. WinSCP offers features like directory synchronization, remote text file editing, and scripting capabilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cyberduck.io\/\">Cyberduck<\/a><\/strong>: is a free FTP client available for Windows and macOS. It supports FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and other protocols. Cyberduck offers a clean and intuitive interface, supports drag-and-drop file transfers. Also, it integrates with external editors for remote file editing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/panic.com\/transmit\/\">Transmit<\/a><\/strong>: Transmit is a popular FTP client designed specifically for macOS. It supports FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and Amazon S3 protocols. Transmit offers a visually appealing interface, features like syncing, batch file transfers, and remote file editing using external editors. Despite the name, Transmit is unrelated to the general concept of data transmission \u2014 it is simply the brand name of this macOS client.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coreftp.com\/\">Core FTP<\/a><\/strong>: Core FTP is a Windows-based FTP client that offers both a free version and a paid version with additional features. It supports FTP, FTPS, and SFTP protocols and provides a straightforward interface with features. For example, drag-and-drop transfers, file encryption, and scheduling.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are just a few examples of widely used FTP clients. There are many other options available based on specific requirements and platform preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FTP_Commands\"><\/span>FTP Commands<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Basically, the client FTP application will connect to the FTP server. Then, it will authenticate. <strong>The protocol uses command lines to send commands to the server<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are several commands that the FTP client uses to talk to the server. The most common are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"overflow-x:auto; margin:28px 0; font-family:inherit;\">\n<table style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:14px; min-width:560px;\">\n  <thead>\n    <tr style=\"border-bottom:2px solid #ddd;\">\n      <th style=\"text-align:left; padding:12px; width:18%; color:#666;\">Command<\/th>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left; padding:12px; width:46%; color:#666;\">What it does<\/th>\n      <th style=\"text-align:left; padding:12px; width:36%; color:#666;\">Syntax<\/th>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/thead>\n  <tbody>\n    <tr><td colspan=\"3\" style=\"padding:10px 12px 6px; font-size:12px; font-weight:700; letter-spacing:0.04em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#185FA5;\">Connection<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>open<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Opens a connection to an FTP server<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">open ftp.example.com<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>user<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Specifies the username for authentication<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">user username<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>pass<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Specifies the password for authentication<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">pass password<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n\n    <tr><td colspan=\"3\" style=\"padding:14px 12px 6px; font-size:12px; font-weight:700; letter-spacing:0.04em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#854F0B;\">Navigation<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>cd<\/code> \/ <code>cwd<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Changes the current working directory<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">cd directory_name<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>ls<\/code> \/ <code>dir<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Lists the contents of the current directory<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">ls<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n\n    <tr><td colspan=\"3\" style=\"padding:14px 12px 6px; font-size:12px; font-weight:700; letter-spacing:0.04em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#3B6D11;\">File transfer<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>get<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Downloads a file from the server to your machine<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">get remote_file local_file<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>put<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Uploads a file from your machine to the server<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">put local_file remote_file<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n\n    <tr><td colspan=\"3\" style=\"padding:14px 12px 6px; font-size:12px; font-weight:700; letter-spacing:0.04em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#7A4FB7;\">File management<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>delete<\/code> \/ <code>del<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Deletes a file on the FTP server<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">delete file_name<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>mkdir<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Creates a new directory on the server<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">mkdir directory_name<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code>rmdir<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\">Deletes a directory on the server<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">rmdir directory_name<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n\n    <tr><td colspan=\"3\" style=\"padding:14px 12px 6px; font-size:12px; font-weight:700; letter-spacing:0.04em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#A32D2D;\">Session<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px;\"><code>bye<\/code> \/ <code>quit<\/code><\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px;\">Ends the FTP session and closes the connection<\/td>\n      <td style=\"padding:11px 12px;\"><code style=\"font-family:monospace;\">bye<\/code><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These commands provide a basic set of functionalities to navigate directories, transfer files, and perform other file management operations. The specific commands and their syntax may vary slightly depending on the FTP client and the FTP server you are using.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Brief_History_of_the_FTP_Protocol\"><\/span>A Brief History of the FTP Protocol<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abhay Bhushan designed, in the 1970s, the file transfer protocol FTP to transfer files between computers in an internetwork. Alongside the first network applications, it allowed users to have different tasks. It defined the basic commands and formal means which computers communicated. Two different kinds of access existed: direct and indirect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first accessed files from a distance as if they were local. It created the idea of no distance. While the latter gets <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/html-file-hosting\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">files from a remote host<\/a>, and uses it locally. They were the first formal versions of the TCP\/IP applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FTP <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/grant-mysql-remote-access\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">granted indirect access<\/a>, and Telnet for direct access to remote hosts. FTP accesses files on another computer to use them locally, and can then transfer them back to their source. The history of FTP is closely tied to the development of TCP\/IP itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first version, released in 1971, was RFC 114. An early version of what would become TCP, called Network Control Protocol, or NCP, was the mean used for network traffic. By then, no internet existed, and a predecessor of it was still small, consisting of a few computers used for development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following that, several iterations of the refining of the protocol came to be. In July 1972, RFC 354 was published, and with it, the major changes in the protocol. Some of those changes described the model of communication used by the modern TCP, and some of the features of the protocol currently in use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By August 1973, with the release of RFC 542, the protocol was already very similar to what is in use today. Besides, it ran over an NCP network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_TCPIP_Era\"><\/span>The TCP\/IP Era<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In June 1980, The RFC 765 was published. It ran over a TCP\/IP for the first time. Alongside it, some defining standards for TCP\/IP were also published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/datatracker.ietf.org\/doc\/html\/rfc959\">RFC 959<\/a>, File Transfer Protocol was published in 1985. It made several changes to the 1980 RFC 765. It added several new commands and is the base of our modern FTP protocols nowadays. Since then, releases added other features, but mostly revising the area of security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On February 1994, RFC 1579 allowed a Firewall-friendly FTP. Later, in September 1998, the RFC 2428 revision allows it to run over IPv6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions_about_FTP\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions about FTP<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<div style=\"display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:10px; margin:24px 0;\">\n\n  <details style=\"background:#fff; border:1px solid #eee; border-radius:12px; padding:4px 18px;\">\n    <summary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:14px 0; font-weight:600;\">Is FTP secure?<\/summary>\n    <div style=\"padding:0 0 16px; color:#555; line-height:1.65;\">No. Standard FTP transmits usernames, passwords, and files as unencrypted plain text, which makes it vulnerable to interception on shared or public networks. For secure transfers, use SFTP or FTPS, both of which encrypt the entire session. Plain FTP should be reserved for non-sensitive data on trusted internal networks only.<\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details style=\"background:#fff; border:1px solid #eee; border-radius:12px; padding:4px 18px;\">\n    <summary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:14px 0; font-weight:600;\">What port does FTP use?<\/summary>\n    <div style=\"padding:0 0 16px; color:#555; line-height:1.65;\">FTP uses TCP port 21 for control commands and port 20 for data transfer. SFTP works over port 22, the same port used by SSH, while FTPS typically uses port 21 for explicit mode or port 990 for implicit mode.<\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details style=\"background:#fff; border:1px solid #eee; border-radius:12px; padding:4px 18px;\">\n    <summary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:14px 0; font-weight:600;\">What is the difference between FTP and SFTP?<\/summary>\n    <div style=\"padding:0 0 16px; color:#555; line-height:1.65;\">FTP is the original File Transfer Protocol and sends data without encryption. SFTP, the SSH File Transfer Protocol, is a separate protocol built on SSH that encrypts the entire connection. Despite the similar name, SFTP is not a version of FTP \u2014 it is the SSH protocol adapted for file transfers, which makes it far more secure.<\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details style=\"background:#fff; border:1px solid #eee; border-radius:12px; padding:4px 18px;\">\n    <summary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:14px 0; font-weight:600;\">What is an FTP client?<\/summary>\n    <div style=\"padding:0 0 16px; color:#555; line-height:1.65;\">An FTP client is software you install on your computer to connect to an FTP server and transfer files. After entering the server hostname, username, and password, you can upload and download files easily. Popular free FTP clients include FileZilla, WinSCP, and Cyberduck.<\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details style=\"background:#fff; border:1px solid #eee; border-radius:12px; padding:4px 18px;\">\n    <summary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:14px 0; font-weight:600;\">What is FTP used for?<\/summary>\n    <div style=\"padding:0 0 16px; color:#555; line-height:1.65;\">FTP is mainly used to upload and manage website files on a hosting server, transfer large files, and move backups or images between a computer and a server. It remains one of the standard ways to publish a website to a web hosting account.<\/div>\n  <\/details>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Is FTP secure?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"No. Standard FTP transmits usernames, passwords, and files as unencrypted plain text, which makes it vulnerable to interception on shared or public networks. For secure transfers, use SFTP or FTPS, both of which encrypt the entire session. Plain FTP should be reserved for non-sensitive data on trusted internal networks only.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What port does FTP use?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"FTP uses TCP port 21 for control commands and port 20 for data transfer. 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It remains one of the standard ways to publish a website to a web hosting account.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"HowTo\",\n  \"name\": \"How to connect to an FTP server using an FTP client\",\n  \"description\": \"Step-by-step guide to connecting to an FTP server with a client such as FileZilla to upload and download files.\",\n  \"step\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 1,\n      \"name\": \"Install an FTP client\",\n      \"text\": \"Download and install an FTP client on your computer, such as FileZilla, WinSCP, or Cyberduck.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 2,\n      \"name\": \"Enter the server details\",\n      \"text\": \"Open the client and enter the FTP host (hostname or IP address), your username, and your password.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 3,\n      \"name\": \"Set the port\",\n      \"text\": \"Use port 21 for standard FTP, or port 22 if you are connecting via SFTP. Most clients use port 21 by default.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 4,\n      \"name\": \"Connect to the server\",\n      \"text\": \"Click Connect. The client performs a handshake with the server and establishes the session.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 5,\n      \"name\": \"Transfer your files\",\n      \"text\": \"Once connected, drag and drop files between your computer and the server to upload or download them.\"\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#E6F1FB; border:1px solid #B5D4F4; border-radius:16px; padding:28px 30px; text-align:center; margin:32px 0; font-family:inherit;\">\n  <div style=\"display:inline-flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; width:52px; height:52px; border-radius:50%; background:#fff; margin-bottom:14px;\">\n    <svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#185FA5\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M5 19a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V6a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h4l3 3h7a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v1\"\/><path d=\"M3.5 19l2.3-6.5A1 1 0 0 1 6.7 12H21l-2.3 6.5a1 1 0 0 1-.9.5H4\"\/><\/svg>\n  <\/div>\n  <div style=\"font-size:20px; font-weight:600; color:#0C447C; margin-bottom:8px;\">Ready to upload your website?<\/div>\n  <div style=\"font-size:15px; color:#185FA5; line-height:1.6; max-width:480px; margin:0 auto 20px;\">Every Copahost web hosting plan includes FTP and secure SFTP access out of the box, so you can publish your files in minutes \u2014 with the speed and support to keep your site online.<\/div>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/web-hosting\" style=\"display:inline-flex; align-items:center; gap:8px; background:#185FA5; color:#fff; text-decoration:none; padding:12px 26px; border-radius:8px; font-size:15px; font-weight:600;\">\n    <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#fff\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"\/><path d=\"M2 12h20M12 2a15 15 0 0 1 0 20 15 15 0 0 1 0-20\"\/><\/svg>\n    See web hosting plans\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_about_FTP_meaning\"><\/span>Conclusion about FTP meaning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and understanding it means knowing both what it does and where it came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, the FTP clients have a good-looking interface, to make things easier for the end-user. FTP is one of the most popular internet protocols nowadays. It\u2019s simply the industry standard to transfer files to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copahost.com\/blog\/what-is-web-hosting\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">web hosting<\/a> servers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FTP meaning is File Transfer Protocol. It\u2019s an internet TCP protocol, used to transfer files between one client computer to a server. Widely used to publish websites, transfer images, backups or any kind of files. Abhay Bhushan, an MIT student, developed the FTP protocol in the 70s. Abhay created this protocol to transfer files between [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2922,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[126],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hosting"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>FTP Meaning: What Is File Transfer Protocol &amp; How It Works - Copahost<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"FTP means File Transfer Protocol. 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