👉 FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a standard network protocol used for transferring files between computers over a TCP/IP network. It operates by establishing a connection between a client and a server, allowing users to upload and download files securely and efficiently. FTP uses a client-server architecture where the client initiates the connection, sends commands to the server, and receives responses. It supports various authentication methods, including username/password, public key, and even two-factor authentication. FTP can be configured in different modes: standard (runtimes) for transferring files, and secure (FTPS or SFTP) for encrypted communication. While FTP has been widely used, its lack of built-in security features has led to the development of more secure alternatives like SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) and FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS).
