FTP is a way of sending these files straight to your server so you can publish them. WordPress users can also take advantage of FTP for uploading theme and plugin files downloaded from third-party sources. In order to send files from a computer to a web server via FTP, website owners use an FTP client. An FTP client is an application on your computer that connects you to remote servers through FTP and other protocols.

An FTP client provides an environment in which you can upload files to a server, download files from a server to your device, and view and manage files stored on your web server. Many FTP clients allow you to do other things too, like connect to cloud storage platforms (i.e. Dropbox and Google Drive), edit files located on a server without needing to download them, and logging your file upload/download history.įTP clients can usually transfer files through protocols other than FTP as well, notably FTPS (File Transfer Protocol Secure), which encrypts FTP transfers with the SSL/TLS protocol, and SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), a different protocol that uses secure shell for encryption. These are protocols to look out for when reviewing FTP clients, as they ensure your file transfers are safe from theft or unauthorized changes.

When you can, use a secure transfer protocol over the comparatively insecure FTP.Ĭyberduck is an excellent all-around FTP client for both Windows and Mac users.

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