FTP, also known asFile Transfer Protocol, is acommunication protocol for the rapid, simple transmission offiles across anetwork supporting theTCP/IP. This network is generally theInternet, or a local network. FTP is a way of accessing files on anothercomputer. FTP uses theClient-Server architecture, meaning that there is a server, that holds the files, and does theauthentication, and a client, or the end-user, who is accessing the files. The server listens on thenetwork for connection requests from other computers. The client can make a connection to the FTP server by using FTP client software. Once connected and authenticated (via rsh or SFTP) the client can do things such as uploading files to the server, downloading files (taking the server's files and putting them on his own computer) from the server, and renaming, deleting files on the server, changing file permissions, etc.
Most modernoperating systems support FTP. This implies that any computer connected to a TCP/IP based network can manipulate files on another computer on that network regardless of which operating systems are involved, provided that they are open to FTP connections. There are many existing FTP client and server programs, many of these are available free, oropen source.
FTP connection is also seen incellular phones when trying to transfer or receive data from a computer nearby.
