What is ftp? and How it Works?

1) What is ftp?
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. According to wikipedia FTP is "a network protocol used to transfer data from one computer to another through a network, such as over the Internet". The way I see it is that FTPs are folders located at specific locations on the internet where you can upload and save files depending on the capacity of the folder. Since this folder is located inside the network of the internet, everybody with a computer, with internet conection and sometimes with a username and password can have access to this folders.

2) Why use ftp? One of the most popular methods to transfer data are emails, but most of the time, you are limited because they can only transfer few and small files. The size limitation is one of the reasons why many people prefer to use FTPs. With an FTP folder, you just copy and paste your files, and the size limit does not exist. In addition, any other person, anywhere in the world with access to a computer and internet conection can find the folder and copy and paste the files into his or her computer.

3) What type of application do you need to connect to an ftp server? There are many ways to connect to an ftp server, if you have a pc and windows, you can just type on your browser the address of your ftp server, for example on the image below I typed ftp://ftp.taxicreative.com/ internet explorer:

It will pop up a window and you have to introduce your user name and pasword...when you get in you will see all the subfolders and files saved there. The Second way to access an ftp server is by using a ftp program, such as winscp, fetch, etc, there are many... and you just download them and introduce the ftp address, your user name and address and a two windows will show the ftp folder on the right and the files of your computer from where you can drag and drop or copy and paste on your left. 4) what connection information or credentials do you need to connect to an ftp server? You just need your host address, or your ftp address - ftp://ftp.yourhost.com/ and most of the times a user name and password