# &FTP;

&FTP; is the Internet service used to transfer a data file from the disk of one computer to the disk of another, regardless of the operating system type.

Similar to other Internet applications, &FTP; uses the client-server approach — a user invokes an &FTP; program on the computer, instructs it to contact a remote computer, and then requests the transfer of one or more files. The local &FTP; program becomes a client that uses TCP to contact an &FTP; server program on the remote computer. Each time the user requests a file transfer, the client and the server programs cooperate to send a copy of the data across the Internet.

&FTP; servers which allow anonymous &FTP; permit any user, not only users with accounts on the host, to browse the ftp archives and download files. Some &FTP; servers are configured to allow users to upload files.

&FTP; is commonly used to retrieve information and obtain software stored in files at &FTP; archive sites throughout the world.

Source: Paraphrased from http://tlc.nlm.nih.gov/resources/tutorials/internetdistlrn/ftpdef.htm

See the manual: ftp.