Which protocol is used for transferring files between remote computers over the internet?

Which protocol is used for transferring files between remote computers over the internet?

• A. FTP
• B. HTTP
• C. SMTP
• D. POP3

Answer: (A)

Transferring files between remote computers over the internet is the purpose of a file transfer protocol. FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is designed exactly for that: to upload and download files between a client and a server across a network. It supports authenticating users, listing directories, and moving multiple files, often using two connections—the control channel for commands and a data channel for the file contents. This makes it the natural choice for moving files, especially when you need to manage a remote repository or perform batch transfers. While HTTP can deliver files from a web server, it’s mainly for requesting resources in the context of web pages and doesn’t provide the same file-management capabilities as FTP. SMTP is for sending email, and POP3 is for retrieving email from a mail server. Therefore, FTP is the protocol used for transferring files between remote computers.

Transferring files between remote computers over the internet is the purpose of a file transfer protocol. FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is designed exactly for that: to upload and download files between a client and a server across a network. It supports authenticating users, listing directories, and moving multiple files, often using two connections—the control channel for commands and a data channel for the file contents. This makes it the natural choice for moving files, especially when you need to manage a remote repository or perform batch transfers.

While HTTP can deliver files from a web server, it’s mainly for requesting resources in the context of web pages and doesn’t provide the same file-management capabilities as FTP. SMTP is for sending email, and POP3 is for retrieving email from a mail server. Therefore, FTP is the protocol used for transferring files between remote computers.