File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is widely used across the Internet to move files over networks, upload and download files to servers, and access online archives; it can also be used to create and remove directories and list files. FTP can refer to the software protocol or to the act of sending files using that protocol. Its purpose is to encourage file sharing among computers and to shield users from the heterogeneity of file storage systems. FTP is often used to move files that are too large to send by email.

FTP is similar to hypertext transfer protocol but more robust; but FTP is slower and more sensitive to firewalls. FTP deploys a client-server architecture. It typically requires a username and a password to log in, although ...