FTP is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol. An Internet standard for the exchange of files. FTP is a specific set of rules that comprise a file transfer protocol. To use FTP, one starts with a client and an application program that enables one to contact another computer on the Internet and exchange files with it.
To gain access to the other computer, one usually must supply a login name and password. After this is provided, he or she is given access to the computer’s file directory system, and he or she can send (upload) and receive (download) files. See anonymous FTP, client, server, site.