Ever tie a string between two tin cans to make a phone when you were a kid? Whatever you say into one can comes out the other can with only that little string connecting the two.

Thats what FTP is like.

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, which is a fancy way of saying its a can-and-string phone, but for computer files instead of speech.

FTP is a protocol (an agreed upon way computers will act regarding a certain task). Using FTP software, you can send a file from your computer (your can) across the Internet (the string) to another computer (the other can) where a duplicated copy of the file will end up.

You can also get a copy of a file from another computer using FTP software. You can also delete a file on another computer. Or rename one. Or create a folder. In fact, with FTP software, you can basically do any type of file management on another computer that you could do on yours.

Now if youre thinking someone could use FTP software to get into your files and delete them or rename them or whatever, dont worry. Unlike the can-and-string phone, not just anyone can grab the other end of the line and gain access to your end. You need a username and password, and you need to know where the other computer is on the Internet. In other words, you have to have some inside info before you can use FTP to hook up with another computer.

Web developers use FTP a lot, because they create web pages on their personal computers, but then need a way to get them onto the server where others can access them on the Internet. When the web page file is ready, the web developer will send the file to the server through FTP.

And thats why FTP is like a can-and-string phone.