FTP is an acronym for "file transfer protocol". As the name implies, FTP is used to transfer files between computers on a network, generally the Internet. You can use FTP to exchange files between your computer accounts, transfer files to or from an account to a desktop computer, or access software archives on the Internet.

Many universities, government agencies, companies, and private individuals have set up publicly accessible archives on the Internet. There are thousands of these sites that contain a myriad of programs, data files, and informational text. Maintainers of such sites set aside a set of public directories and files that may be read by the rest of the world via FTP, usually in a directory named "pub". Specific directions or information about a site is generally contained in greeting messages or files with names like "README".

Remember that anonymous FTP is a privilege granted by the organization that owns the computer to which you are connecting, and you should show good manners in your usage. Don't transfer files you don't need or an excessive amount of material, and try to restrict your transfers to off-peak hours. Many FTP sites are used very heavily, and you may need patience to connect.

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