File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

In computing, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used for the transfer of computer files between a client and server on a computer network. FTP is built on a client-server model architecture and uses separate control and data connections between the client and the server.

FTP is a commonly used protocol for transferring files over the Internet and is supported by all major operating systems. The FTP protocol has been in use since the early days of the Internet and its popularity has grown steadily over the years. Today, FTP is one of the most widely used protocols on the Internet.

The FTP protocol allows users to transfer files between their local computers and remote servers. FTP is typically used to download files from a server to a local computer or to upload files from a local computer to a server. However, it can also be used to transfer files between two remote servers.

FTP uses two ports: 21 for control traffic and 20 for data traffic. Control traffic consists of commands that are sent from the client to the server, such as login information, filetransfer requests, and other commands. Data traffic consists of the actual data being transferred, such as file contents.

FTP is an insecure protocol because it uses clear-text passwords for authentication. This means that passwords are sent over the network in plain-text format, which can be intercepted by malicious users. For this reason, it is recommended that users connect to FTP servers using SSL/TLS.