# File transfer

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_transfer
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{{Short description|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](/source/Comparison_of_file_transfer_protocols) have been designed for different contexts.

==Protocols==
A file transfer protocol is a convention that describes how to transfer files between two computing endpoints. As well as the stream of [bit](/source/bit)s from a file stored as a single unit in a [file system](/source/file_system), some may also send relevant [metadata](/source/metadata) such as the [filename](/source/filename), file size and [timestamp](/source/timestamp) – and even [file-system permissions](/source/file-system_permissions) and [file attribute](/source/file_attribute)s.

Some examples:
* [FTP](/source/File_Transfer_Protocol) is an older cross-platform file transfer protocol<ref>{{cite web |last1=Prince |first1=Brian |title=Should Organizations Retire FTP for Security? |url=http://www.securityweek.com/should-organizations-retire-ftp-security |website=Security Week |date=24 January 2012 |access-date=14 September 2017}}</ref> 
* [SSH File Transfer Protocol](/source/SSH_File_Transfer_Protocol) a file transfer protocol secured by the [Secure Shell](/source/Secure_Shell) (SSH) protocol
* [Secure copy](/source/Secure_copy_protocol) (''scp'') is based on the [Secure Shell](/source/Secure_Shell) (SSH) protocol
* [HTTP](/source/HTTP) can support file transfer
* [BitTorrent](/source/BitTorrent), [Gnutella](/source/Gnutella) and other distributed file transfers systems use [peer-to-peer](/source/peer-to-peer) 
* In [Systems Network Architecture](/source/Systems_Network_Architecture), [LU 6.2](/source/IBM_Advanced_Program-to-Program_Communication) [Connect:Direct](/source/Connect%3ADirect) and [XCOM Data Transport](/source/XCOM_Data_Transport) are traditionally used to transfer files
* Many [instant messaging](/source/instant_messaging) or [LAN messenger](/source/LAN_messenger) systems support the ability to transfer files
* [Computer](/source/Computer)s may transfer files to [peripheral device](/source/peripheral_device)s such as [USB flash drive](/source/USB_flash_drive)s
* Dial-up [modem](/source/modem)s [null modem](/source/null_modem) links used [XMODEM](/source/XMODEM), [YMODEM](/source/YMODEM), [ZMODEM](/source/ZMODEM) and similar

==See also==
* [File sharing](/source/File_sharing)
* [Managed file transfer](/source/Managed_file_transfer)
* [Peer-to-peer file sharing](/source/Peer-to-peer_file_sharing)
* [Pull technology](/source/Pull_technology)
* [Push technology](/source/Push_technology)
* [Sideloading](/source/Sideloading)
* [WeTransfer](/source/WeTransfer)
* [Smash](/source/Smash_(file_transfer_service))

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Computer files}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:File transfer}}
Category:Internet terminology
Category:Network file transfer protocols

{{Compu-network-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [File transfer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_transfer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_transfer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.