What is FTP

What is FTP? FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is an internet protocol used to transfer data across the internet from one computer to another.

For example, you can use FTP to connect to your web host to access the files and folders of your website. You can use it to upload and download files from and to your computer. To do this, you need to have an FTP client.

An FTP client is software that you install on your computer, which allows you to transfer files to and from your web server. FileZilla is an example of an easy-to-use FTP client that happens to be free and open-source.

Most web hosting providers give users access to FTP, which allows them to upload and download files from within their control panel.

Many of the popular CMS platforms allow you to install themes and plugins. If your website breaks and you can’t log in, you will still have FTP access. Having FTP access will allow you to fix the issue by logging into the web hosting server and editing or removing the files causing a problem.

We should also note that FTP is not an encrypted transmission, which means that anyone could gain access and read any data sent over it. Regular FTP is an old standard and does not transfer data securely. To transfer data securely use FTPS (FTP-SSL) or SFTP (SSH-FTP).

If you own a website, it’s a good idea to learn and understand how to use FTP.