What Is FTP: FTP Explained for Beginners

As a website developer, FTP offers a convenient and secure way to make changes to a website, especially when dealing with numerous file transfers.

In this article, we will cover all the fundamental aspects of FTP and explain how to use this protocol effectively.

FTP Explained in a Video Tutorial

Are you in a hurry? Check out our video tutorial instead.

How Does FTP Work?

FTP connection needs two parties to establish and communicate on the network. To do that, users need to have permission by providing credentials to the FTP server. Some public FTP servers may not require credentials to access their files. The practice is common in a so-called anonymous FTP.

There are two distinct communication channels while establishing an FTP connection. The first one is called the command channel where it initiates the instruction and response. The other one is called a data channel, where the distribution of data happens.

To get or transfer a file, an authorized user will use the protocol to request on creating changes in the server. In return, the server will grant that access. This session is known as the active connection mode.

The distribution in active mode might face a problem if a firewall is protecting the user’s machine. The firewall usually does not allow any unauthorized sessions from an external party.

The passive mode is used if that issue occurs. In this mode, the user establishes both command and the data channel. This mode then asks the server to listen rather than to attempt to create a connection back to the user.

How to Use FTP

There are three approaches on how to establish an FTP connection. A  very simple method is using a command-line FTP, such as using Command prompt for Windows or Terminal in Mac/Linux. Developers still use it today for transferring files using FTP.

A user also can use a web browser to communicate with the FTP server. A web browser is more convenient when users want to access large directories in the server. Yet, it’s often less reliable and slower than using a dedicated FTP program.

Today, the most common practice to use FTP, especially for a web developer, is by using an FTP client.

An FTP client provides more freedom compared to the command line and web browser. It is also easier to manage and more powerful compared to the other methods.

There are also more features available whilst using such a client. For example, it allows users to transfer a large file and use the synchronizing utility.

How to Connect to Hostinger FTP

There are many FTP clients to choose from. From free open-source applications to premium options. For the purpose of this article, we will use FileZilla, an open-source and popular FTP client.

We will need an FTP server first, and we can set one up using our Hostinger account.

1. Login to your Hostinger account and navigate to the FTP accounts section
2. Create a new FTP account by filling out a new username and password
3. You will see new FTP servers (Hostname) under the list of active FTP accounts
   
4. In FileZilla, insert the hostname, username, and password and hit the Quickconnect button. You can also fill the port number. Otherwise, port 21 is used by default.
   
5. The status window will tell you if you are logged in to the FTP server. As you can see in the Remote Site window, these are the files that the server has.

Conclusion

So there you have it, you can send and recieve files from an FTP server. As a web developer, you will need to use FTP with an FTP client to access the website that you are managing. Furthermore, it is easier to create and remove directories and read a large number of files on the server.

We hope this article helps you to understand FTP as well as the different methods and programs used.

What Is FTP FAQ