FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the simplest and most secure way to exchange files over the Internet.  Whether you know it or not, you most likely use FTP all the time.

The most common use for FTP is to download files from the Internet.  Because of this, FTP is the backbone of the MP3 music craze, and vital to most online auction and game enthusiasts.  In addition, the ability to transfer files back-and-forth makes FTP essential for anyone creating a Web page, amateurs and professionals alike.

When downloading a file from the Internet you're actually transferring the file to your computer from another computer over the Internet.  This is why the T (transfer) is in FTP. You may not know where the computer is that the file is coming from but you most likely know it's URL or Internet address.

When connecting with an FTP Client, uploads and downloads couldn't be easier, and you have added security and additional features.  For one, you're able to to resume a download that did not successfully finish, which is a very nice feature for people using dial-up connections who frequently loose their Internet connection. 

What is an FTP Client?
An FTP Client is software that is designed to transfer files back-and-forth between two computers over the Internet. 
The FTP client needs to be installed on your computer and can only be used with a live connection to the Internet.

The classic FTP Client (WS_FTP) is a two-pane design.  The pane on the left displays the files on your computer and the pane on the right displays the files on the remote computer.

File transfers are as easy as dragging-and-dropping files from one pane to the other or by highlighting a file and clicking one of the direction arrows located between the panes.  

Additional features of the FTP Client include: multiple file transfer; the auto re-get or resuming feature; a queuing utility; the scheduling feature; an FTP find utility; a synchronize utility; and for the advanced user, a scripting utility.