File transfer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In computing, file transfer is a generic term for referring to the act of transmitting files over a computer network. While the term "file transfer" is often linked to the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), there are numerous ways to transfer files over a network. Servers which provide a file transfer service are often called file servers.
File transfers can roughly be classified in two:
- "Pull-based" file transfers where the receiver initiates a file transmission request.
- "Push-based" file transfers where the sender initiates a file transmission request.
Some protocols for file transfer may provide both of these, and they are often referred to as "uploading" or "downloading", from the client's perspective.
File transfer can take place over a variety of levels:
- Transparent file transfers over network file systems.
- Explicit file transfers from dedicated file-transfer services like FTP or HTTP.
- Distributed file transfers over peer-to-peer networks.
- File transfers over instant messaging systems.
- File transfers between computers and peripheral devices.
- File transfers over direct modem or serial (null modem) links, such as XMODEM, YMODEM and ZMODEM.
