FTP Basics Webmaster Tutorials

If you've done some shopping around for web hosting you've probably come across the term FTP before, but you may not know what FTP is. This tutorial will teach you the concept of FTP, what FTP is used for, how to use FTP (at the most basic level) and point you in the direction of some of the better FTP clients (programs) out there.

FTP stands for file transfer protocol and is basically a transmission mechanism for copying a file (or series of files) from one computer (such as your home computer) to another computer (such as the server on which your web site resides).

You're probably already familiar with HTTP - Hyper Text Transfer Protocol -, HTTP is the method used to allow you to access the Hyper Text documents that are web sites when you are surfing the Web. That is why URLs begin with http://. FTP is actually quite similar, except that the files transferred are not rendered as they are on the web, rather they are transferred as a complete (and unopened) file.

Most web hosts provide their clients with a web based control panel, or GUI (graphical user interface) in which they may transfer their files. Most hosts also provide their clients with FTP access - a cleaner, usually faster, and easier way to transfer files, especially in large quantities (think of how long it would take to upload a thousand file web site using a GUI that allowed you to upload just 10 files at a time!). With FTP the number of files you can queue for upload is limitless, and then you can just leave it to transfer on its own.

In order to access FTP you need to use what is called an FTP client. This is a program which allows you to interact with the file system on your server, using file transfer protocol. Once you have the client opened you will be asked to type in an FTP address (if your web host doesn't automatically give you one, ask them) which is usually something like ftp.yoursite.com. Either before or during logon to your FTP account you will then be asked for your user name and password. Enter them. Voila, you're connected to your remote files.

Most commonly you will (probably) be using FTP to upload your web site. That means you'll select files on your local computer and transfer them to your server. It's interesting to note that, though the term "file transfer" is used, that isn't actually what takes place. Your computer does not "move" the file from itself onto the server, leaving no trace of it on your home machine. Rather, the contents of the file is copied onto your server, leaving the original intact.

Likewise, you may also use FTP to download files from your server onto your home computer - useful if a file you have locally has become corrupt, was accidentally deleted, or rendered useless through miscoding. Downloading transfers a copy of the file from your server onto your local machine.

Depending upon the FTP client used, you may be able to do any number of other tasks through FTP. These include CHMODing files (setting permissions on who can read, write, or execute the files), moving files, setting automated uploads, etc.

There are currently countless FTP clients available. When I was using my PC, I used a great program called CuteFTP. This was a program loaded with all of the extras, logon wizard (connected to my site automatically on execution of the file), timed uploads, etc. It even included a nicely designed HTML editor. CuteFTP is shareware for a trial period and then you must license it. If you plan on becoming an FTP power user, this is a program worth having. Download CuteFTP or Download CuteFTP Mac today!

If you plan on using FTP strictly for uploading files, you may benefit from using a freeware FTP program without all of the bells and whistles of CuteFTP. SmartFTP is a nicely designed client for the PC that has a free version available. MacIntosh users should check out a program called CyberDuck, a freeware client for the Mac.

Now that I run Mac OS X, I use a UNIX FTP client called simply ftp. While there is no GUI, if you are a UNIX fan, or fairly familiar with both FTP and the UNIX environment, this is the road you'll want to take. FTP for UNIX is preinstalled in most shells including OS X. To access this program from OS X, open terminal and type ftp at the command line. UNIX users may simply type ftp on their command line, sidestepping Mac's terminal.

This completes our FTP overview. Future tutorials will discuss the various aspects of FTP in greater detail.