That’s usually the story of the day for regular computer illiterate individuals. It’s a feeling of utter despair when facing all those darn abbreviations and acronyms. What the heck do they all mean? HTML, PDF, CSS3, LOL, RMAOTF, IDK, BOB, XPS, CPU. It’s just too much! And they all say the term IIIIICCCCUUUUU like those scary robots with their arms out, wanting to suck on your bone marrow. It’s the horror film of the millennium.
Fear not, folks. This writer will at least quell your terror and tell you as much as possible about one of the computer/Internet acronyms. Namely the common file type FTP. Not many understand what that is. Except maybe that it means “Feeling Totally Powerless.” Well, here’s the power. Use it, live it, love it.
Essentially what FTP stands for is File Transfer Protocol. You’ll see that term when dealing with download sites; the idea is that you’re linking your computer with another one somewhere in the world that harnesses file transfer capabilities. Hence, downloading. You can’t download anything if you’re not able to transfer any files.
FTP is also not limited to downloading; users can simply view these FTP’ed files when given the appropriate links. Files of all kinds can be uploaded onto a server within a computer, but no one from another computer can view them unless they have the proper FTP clearance. It’s almost like looking into someone’s My Documents folder, only the folders or files are stored online and are available for viewing so long as you click on the correct link that zips you to an FTP-regulated site.
Hard to believe, but most everything regarding information transfer throughout the Web and from computer to computer revolves around File Transfer Protocol. It’s the basis in computers for updating, uploading, downloading, viewing, reading, linking, chatting, even publishing online. So rest easy now—one more thing to learn about computers in this scary world of technological illiteracy.