• FTP Client: The program which initiates an FTP session is the client. It is responsible for sending the commands that send and receive files. Programs like UNIX ftp and Fetch are FTP clients.
• FTP Server: An Internet host which allows clients to connect, then request or offer files to be transferred. Most UNIX hosts offer FTP service to valid users, and NCSA Telnet and FTPd let your Mac become an FTP file server.
• FTP Archive: An FTP server offering a collection of related files, generally for public access with anonymous FTP.
• Anonymous FTP: Using FTP to transfer files from a server that allows anyone to connect. "Anonymous" is a misnomer however, because most sites request your E-mail address -- it merely implies that you don't need an established account on that machine. To connect to an FTP server anonymously, enter anonymous for user and your E-mail address for the password. Also, most servers display help messages by default; by prefixing a hyphen to the password (your E-mail address), you will not receive such messages.
• ASCII File: A simple text file, or a file that has been converted into ASCII with a program like uuencode or BinHex. Most files available for FTP are ASCII files.
• Binary File: If a file is raw data and not converted into an ASCII file, then it is considered binary. Graphic images are often treated as binary files, so such files are also called "Image Files."
• Download: A client sending the get command asks the FTP server to send the indicated file.
• Upload: A client giving the put command tells the FTP server that it is sending a file to be stored with the indicated name.
  To use FTP with a remote host, the remote host must be:
• Powered on and connected to the Internet
• Setup with account(s) and password(s) that allow users to ftp
• Registered with a Domain Name Service (DNS). If not registered, use the IP number

FTP can be used to do the following:

• Obtain public domain/shareware/freeware software
• Transfer files to a remote computer for processing/distribution
• Transfer files between different types of computers

Once a FTP session is established, it remains connected until:

• The Logout/Quit (or equivalent) command is issued
• The connection is broken - something gets unplugged or malfunctions
• The remote host system 'time's out' after a predetermined idle time

All popular mail software has the ability to append a data file to the end of a message for software distribution. Likewise, each mail client can also save such a file to disk for later decoding and use. For most users to use file transfers, it is often preferable to send it directly by mail than to set up or post it to an FTP archive.