ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

File Transfer Protocol

Okay kiddo, let's talk about file transfer protocol or FTP. Have you ever borrowed toys from your friend and then gave them back when you were finished playing with them? That’s kind of how FTP works too!

FTP is a way to move files from one computer to another using the internet. Just like you walk over to your friend's house to borrow toys, computers talk to each other through something called a network.

When someone wants to transfer a file, they use a special software called an "FTP client". It's like a messenger that knows how to talk to other computers using FTP. The FTP client will ask for permission to connect to another computer over the network, it's like asking your friend if you can come over to play.

Once connected, the FTP client will look for the file that needs to be transferred. It will grab the file and then send it to the other computer, just like how you pick up your friend's toy and bring it back to your house. The other computer that receives the file is called the "FTP server".

After the file is transferred, it can be used on the other computer just like how you can play with your friend's toy that you borrowed. And just like how you have to return the toy to your friend when you are done playing with it, FTP can be used to transfer files back to the original computer too.

Overall, FTP is a safe and convenient way to move files between computers over the internet. It’s like borrowing toys from your friend except the toys are digital files!