FTP, which stands for File Transfer Protocol, is the language that allows computers on the same network to send files between each other. When you send files from your computer to another server, it's called uploading. Retrieving files from that other server and putting them on your computer is called downloading.
The version of your website that resides on your computer is the offline version, or the local version. However, when you move your website files to a domain's server, your website is now online and accessible by other web surfers. Doing this means your website is now live.
FTP can be used via a few different methods. Many website hosting services provide a user interface built right into their site. These interfaces include graphics and visual cues to guide designers through the process. This is most common option for beginner web designers. If you are using a full-featured web editing program such as Dreamweaver, it may have a functionality that lets you connect to the web server through the program itself.
Alternatively, you can use an FTP client, which is a program created to handle FTP-related tasks. There are many free FTP clients out there. In fact, your browser itself can be used to access an FTP directory. Though with this method, you will not be able to move or upload files, most likely—only navigate and download. If you type in your domain name, preceded by "ftp://" instead of "http://" , you"ll get a prompt requesting your login information, and you can access your files and directories right in the browser.
When you register with a web host (the web space that will hold your files online), you will choose a user name and password. You will need to provide this information, often along with your domain name, to access an FTP service.
