The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a series of protocols that originated in 1971 as a means for different computer systems to exchange files. It is the primary means of transferring documents and applications from one computer to another on the Internet. An FTP site can be hosted on Unix, Mac OS or Windows. Client applications can also run on a variety of platforms, and can log onto any FTP server in order to upload or download text or binary files irrespective of whether the FTP server and client are based on the same operating system.

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