About FTP Clients
A good FTP client can be worth its megabytes in gold. FTP, or file transfer protocol, allows you to transfer files from one computer to another through a TCP connection--the kind of connection that most of us use to access the Internet. If you maintain a website, an FTP client can make your job much easier.
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Function
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FTP has four functions--to promote the sharing of files, to encourage the use of remote computers, to protect users from different types of file storage used by various hosts, and to transfer data files reliably and safely.
FTP clients are software programs that allow you to transfer files from your computer to another computer. While many Web-hosting companies offer an online file management tool through your account management dashboard, an FTP client can make it much easier to upload and manage all the files that make your website functional, because you can upload entire folders of files at once.
An FTP client is only one part of the file transfer protocol. The other part is the FTP server, the computer that stores files. An FTP client connects to an FTP server and sends commands to it. Those commands allow transfers to and from the server, and allow the FTP client to manipulate the files and directories on the server.
History
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The original File Transfer Protocol was developed in the 1970s and early 1980s, before TCP and IP, the two major connection protocols used on the Internet, even existed. Like all of the Internet Protocols, it sets specific standards, ways of doing things that ensure compatibility over a wide range of users and developers. The very first FTP proposal was published in 1971. It defined a set of commands to be used and recognized by all computers in transferring files. At the time, the Internet hadn't even been born. The users were a network of development computers known as ARPAnet. The FTP went through numerous revisions, with the final revision written in 1985.
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Features
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FTP clients have many features that allow you to automate the process of uploading and downloading files. At a bare minimum, a good FTP client will have all of the following features:
The ability to transfer batches of files is one of the most important features for a website manager or developer. Most FTP clients will automatically detect the type of file being transferred and use the right transfer protocol for that type of file. You should also be able to easily set and change access permissions for all of the files and directories that you control. It will have the ability to connect to any FTP site for which you have access permission.
FTP clients add security layers to the original FTP protocols. The latest generation of FTP clients allow secure connections over an SSL line (Secure Socket Layer) or an FTP over an SSH (Secure Shell) connection. Both of those protocols encrypt the data being transferred so that it can't be easily read by anyone that intercepts the data stream.
Types
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There are several different types of FTP clients, both free and commercial. Most provide the essential features needed to transfer files easily and safely between your computer and an FTP server. In most cases, the choice of which type of FTP client you use is a matter of personal preference.
Internet Explorer and other Web browsers can function as FTP clients by using the FTP:// heading when connecting to an FTP server. The built-in FTP for Internet Explorer may not work with many modern FTP servers because of firewall conflicts.
Standalone FTP clients like WS_FTP and SmartFTP are full programs that you download and install on your computer. Both are commercial products designed for use with Windows. Mac users can get similar products, like Fetch and Cute FTP for Mac Pro. One of the most popular standalone FTP clients is FileZilla, which is a cross-platform client that can be used on Windows, Mac and Unix/Linux machines.
Browser-based FTP clients are growing in popularity. FireFTP is an FTP add-on for Mozilla Firefox that lets you use all the familiar FTP commands and a standard FTP interface from within your Web browser.
Warning
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FTP is not a secure transfer protocol. It was developed before anyone considered a need for encryption to protect usernames, passwords and sensitive data. That's why most FTP clients on the market today offer one or more ways to send files through encrypted connections. It's important to use a secure connection for file transfers to prevent others from accessing your data and files on the FTP server.
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