FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a standard method for transferring files between a computer and a web server. It's how site owners and developers upload, download, and manage files directly on hosting, outside of whatever admin dashboard the CMS itself provides.
What FTP Gets Used For
- Uploading a WordPress theme or plugin manually, when it can't be installed through the dashboard
- Editing core files directly during advanced troubleshooting
- Downloading a full backup of a site's files
- Migrating a site from one host to another
FTP Clients Worth Knowing
- FileZilla — a free, widely used option, and the default choice for many
- Cyberduck — a clean, beginner-friendly option available for Mac and Windows
- WinSCP — a solid, free option built specifically for Windows
A Note on Security: SFTP
Standard FTP transmits data, including login credentials, without any encryption — making it genuinely vulnerable to interception. SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) adds proper encryption on top of the same basic functionality, and virtually every modern host offers it. It's worth actively choosing SFTP over plain FTP wherever a host supports it.
« Back to Index