What is FTP?
File Transfer Protocol or FTP, is a protocol or sets of rules that is used to transfer data from one computer to another, usually between clients and servers.
In basic outline, it works like this: one computer, known as the "client," uses an FTP client software program to request a file from another computer. The second computer is known as a "server." The file is then moved, or downloaded, to the computer that made the request. The same FTP Client software can be used to upload files to another computer. For example, if you have created files for your web site on your own computer, and you want to send them to your web host, you would use the FTP Client software to accomplish this task.
FTP can also come in handy for downloading software to your computer, and transferring information between your home and work computers. While FTP can be done using Internet Explorer, you can actually get better featured third-party clients to help you accomplish your tasks.
How do you transfer files then?
Using Internet Explorer’s FTP as an example, you start by typing in the FTP URL address into the address bar. Something like this:-
ftp://ftp.mydomain.com/
might be the address of your FTP URL. The next thing is for you to enter the authentication, i.e., your username and password from the prompt box the Internet Explorer shows you.
What you'll see next in your browser will look very much like what you'd see in Windows Explorer - a list of files. Since the FTP site - in this case, your web host - controls the files you can access, the only files you're likely to be seeing are your own.
Transferring files is as easy as clicking and dragging your desired files from your hard disk into the FTP folder. The process is similar vice versa. So, in short there’s nothing that you should know what to do (well unless you are an idiot).
Using other FTP Clients
Other FTP software is in abundance throughout the World Wide Web. You can literally choose your desired FTP client with ease, from the free to the most expensive. It all depends on the type of features you want.
If you have a Dreamweaver WYSIWYG editor, then you do not need to bother looking for a FTP client. It has a feature to allow you to publish your website straight from there. Just read up on their manual on how to set it up.
It is all the same in the setup procedure with any other FTP clients, enter your domain, username and password and you are ready to go. At times when the FTP doesn’t work, you may need to enter a port number. Other than that, whichever FTP client you choose, it works just the same. It is easy.
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