FTP

n.
A communications protocol governing the transfer of files from one computer to another over a network.


v., FTPed, FTP·ing, FTPs.

v.tr.
To transfer (a file) using FTP.

v.intr.
To transfer a file using FTP.

[F(ILE) T(RANSFER) P(ROTOCOL).]

For more information on FTP, visit Britannica.com.

(1) (Foil Twisted Pair) See twisted pair.

(2) (File Transfer Protocol) A protocol used to transfer files over a TCP/IP network (Internet, Unix, etc.). For example, after developing the HTML pages for a Web site on a local machine, they are typically uploaded to the Web server using FTP.

FTP includes functions to log in to the network, list directories and copy files. It can also convert between the ASCII and EBCDIC character codes. FTP operations can be performed by typing commands at a command prompt or via an FTP utility running under a graphical interface such as Windows. FTP transfers can also be initiated from within a Web browser by entering the URL preceded with ftp://.

FTP Vs. E-Mail

E-mail was designed for ASCII text only. In order to include other file types such as images and programs in an e-mail message, they have to be converted to a full binary format and "attached" to the message. FTP was designed to handle binary files directly and does not add the overhead of encoding and decoding the data as does e-mail.

FTP Vs. HTTP

When you download a Web page, the HTTP protocol is used. HTTP and FTP operate in a similar manner for file transfer, and both support binary files.

It's a Verb Too

The term is also used as a verb; for example, "let's FTP them the file." See FTP commands, anonymous FTP and TFTP. See also FTTP.

FTP Utility

Ipswitch's WS_FTP Pro makes FTP'ing easy under Windows. After logging in and switching to the appropriate folders on the local and remote systems, transferring files requires only highlighting, dragging and dropping.

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: (computer science) protocol that allows users to copy files between their local system and any system they can reach on the network
  Synonym: file transfer protocol

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The verb ftp has one meaning:

Meaning #1: use the File Transfer Protocol to transfer data from one computer to another

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Dansk (Danish)
abbr. - file transfer protocol, ftp

Français (French)
abbr. - (Comput) protocole de transfert de fichier

Deutsch (German)
abbr. - file transfer protocol (Dateiübermittlungsprotokoll)

Ελληνική (Greek)
abbr. - πρωτόκολλο μεταφοράς αρχείων

Español (Spanish)
abbr. - protocolo de transferencia de ficheros

Svenska (Swedish)
abbr. - filöverföringsprotokoll (data), FTP, filöverföringsprotokoll (data)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
文件传输协议, 网络上主要文件传输协议

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
abbr. - 檔案傳輸協定, 網路上主要文件傳輸協定

한국어 (Korean)
abbr. - file transfer protocol(파일 전송 프로토콜)

עברית (Hebrew)
abbr. - ‮הוראות העברת קבצים (מחשבים)‬

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Ftp	cute ftp