FTP Explained: File Transfer Protocol, FTP Server, Ports, Commands and FileZilla | TechTerms

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) explained in simple terms! Learn what FTP is, how an FTP server and FTP client work, FTP ports, FTP commands, and how files are transferred over the Internet. In this FTP tutorial, you'll understand FTP protocol, control and data connections, TCP port 21 and port 20, GET and PUT commands, RETR and STOR commands, ASCII, Binary and EBCDIC transfer modes, and how FileZilla works with FTP. ◆ 1. WHAT IS FTP? FTP = File Transfer Protocol ► Application-layer protocol used to transfer files over a network/Internet. ► Think of FTP as a courier service for files. ◆ 2. FTP CLIENT & SERVER FTP Server → Stores and provides files. FTP Client → Connects to the server and accesses files. ◆ 3. FTP OPERATIONS ► Upload files ► Download files ► Create/delete directories ► Rename files ► Browse directories ◆ 4. FTP TRANSFER MODES ASCII → Text files Binary → Images, videos, PDFs, ZIPs, programs EBCDIC → IBM mainframes ◆ 5. TWO TCP CONNECTIONS Control Connection → Commands & responses → TCP Port 21 Data Connection → Actual file transfer → TCP Port 20* ★ Remember: Control = Instructions Data = Files * TCP Port 20 is used for the data connection in traditional Active FTP. ◆ 6. GET & PUT COMMANDS GET → Download → RETR PUT → Upload → STOR ◆ 7. COMMON FTP COMMANDS Client Command Protocol Command Function ──────────────────────────────── ascii TYPE A ASCII mode binary TYPE I Binary mode cd CWD Change directory delete DELE Delete file get RETR Download file dir LIST List files mkdir MKD Create directory put STOR Upload file pwd PWD Show current directory quit QUIT End FTP session rmdir RMD Remove directory ◆ 8. FILEZILLA ► Graphical FTP client ► Supports drag-and-drop file transfers ► Converts user actions into FTP protocol commands ◆ 9. WIRESHARK FTP Client Action ↓ FTP Protocol Command ↓ FTP Server Example: GET file.pdf → RETR file.pdf PUT file.pdf → STOR file.pdf ★ QUICK REVISION FTP = File Transfer Protocol FTP Client → Accesses files FTP Server → Stores files Port 21 → Control Connection Port 20 → Data Connection* GET → Download → RETR PUT → Upload → STOR ASCII → Text Binary → Images/Videos/PDFs EBCDIC → IBM Mainframes Control Connection → Commands Data Connection → Files #FTP #FileTransferProtocol #FTPServer #ComputerNetworks #Networking #FileZilla