File transfer
Transmission of computer files
File transfer is the transmission of a computer file through a communication channel from one computer system to another. Typically, file transfer is mediated by a communications protocol. In the history of computing, numerous file transfer protocols have been designed for different contexts.
01Protocols
A file transfer protocol is a convention that describes how to transfer files between two computing endpoints. As well as the stream of bits from a file stored as a single unit in a file system, some may also send relevant metadata such as the filename, file size and timestamp, and even file-system permissions and file attributes.
Some examples:
- FTP is an older cross-platform file transfer protocol
- SSH File Transfer Protocol a file transfer protocol secured by the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol
- Secure copy (scp) is based on the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol
- HTTP can support file transfer
- BitTorrent, Gnutella and other distributed file transfers systems use peer-to-peer
- In Systems Network Architecture, LU 6.2 Connect:Direct and XCOM Data Transport are traditionally used to transfer files
- Many instant messaging or LAN messenger systems support the ability to transfer files
- Computers may transfer files to peripheral devices such as USB flash drives
- Dial-up modems null modem links used XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM and similar
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “File transfer”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
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