What Does FTP Stand For?
This is an easily answered question, because for almost anyone the letters ftp refer to computer use and communication, and stand for file transfer protocol. Basically, this is a way of transferring files from one computer or workstation to another. FTP is just one part of the overall system called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, which also goes by the acronym TCP/IP.
The receiving computer must have FTP software running and available so that the initiating computer can establish a connection. Information stored in file formats, that is, a group of text, images etc. can then be sent or received between the connected computers or work stations. In addition, a file might be a single item that can also be transferred.
In the current world of computer technology, the capability of transferring files using FTP is pretty much a given. The sometimes-confusing word “client” has been assigned to the program in an operating system that allows such transfer. Essentially, this client is a small program or set of code that allows the computer to connect with another computer and transfer files that can be opened and viewed on the other end.
FTP clients must be able to find and identify another server by its Internet Protocol address or by the name it is using on the Internet. This would be a server that is identified by its IP address, such as 192.159.0.2, or something similar. The server could also be identified by the common .com or .org, which are becoming standards in computer communication today.
Information is transferred in two basic ways, which are the keys to any file transfer protocol success. One is plain text or ASCII, which stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. The other method is binary code, basically a series of Os and 1s that act as on/off switches depending on the code writer’s intent. These are, at their foundation, not interchangeable. A file sent via FTP using ASCII format will generally be unreadable in the binary status.
The more technologically oriented might want to know that the FTP protocol uses ports 20 and 21, one for control and one for the actual data transfer. There is some difference to be considered with active FTP and passive FTP, though this may not be a major concern for the everyday end user. But there are times when port 21 is not used for data. For most purposes, a computer port can be thought of as similar to the port in which a ship docks. Information from another location comes into the port so that two or more computers can connect and exchange information.
FTP is considered fast and efficient, especially when transferring large files. It is also able to cross between operating systems, making computer-to-computer communication much easier in a field that has Windows, Mac and Linux, for example. FTP takes file transfer to a level closer to the base, so that the operating system is not a major factor. Most end users do not need to know the details of FTP, though they may benefit from knowing that computer communication is possible using this protocol.
Category: Computers, Internet, Technology