File Transfer Protocol. A method of transferring files from one computer to another over a network. Connections require a user identification which may be open to "guest" or "anonymous" users, or the connections may restricted to specific persons. The connections may require public passwords, e-mail addresses, or secret passwords. Users many be permitted only to download files or they maybe given permission to both upload and download files.

As a user, you can use FTP with a simple command line interface (for example, from the Windows MS-DOS Prompt window) or with a commercial program that offers a graphical user interface. Your Web browser can also make FTP requests to download programs you select from a Web page. Using FTP, you can also update (delete, rename, move, and copy) files at a server. You need to logon to an FTP server. However, publicly available files are easily accessed using anonymous FTP.