Digital marketing term
FTP
An older protocol for moving files between a computer and a server. Themes and backups still travel this way; classic FTP can send passwords in the clear.
Detailed explanation
Teams reach for it when there is no panel uploader and a theme, plugin, or large media pack has to land in the home directory. Day-to-day copy edits belong in a CMS. On some shared hosts it is still the default door.
Cleartext FTP on the public internet, a shared account, and test files left in production are common failures. Writing to the wrong folder takes the site down; anonymous access invites defacement. “Quick patch via FTP” becomes a habit instead of moving to SFTP.
Watch failed logins, unexpected files, and downtime. Prefer SFTP/SSH or the CMS; if FTP remains, lock it by IP, give people their own accounts, and never use plain passwords. Transfer method is a security choice, not a content tactic.
Frequently asked questions
- Is SFTP just another name for FTP?
- No. SFTP rides on SSH and is encrypted. Classic FTP may expose commands and passwords. Do not use it on shared networks.
- When is the CMS enough?
- Posts, images, and plugin updates. Core files or bulk backups may still need protocol access—pick the encrypted option.
Related terms
Internal links for the topic cluster — read these concepts together.
- HostingThe service that keeps a site’s files, database, and mail on a machine reachable from the internet. A domain does nothing until DNS points it at that server.
- Home DirectoryThe folder on a hosting account that the web server treats as the site’s public root—often named public_html, www, or htdocs. Files dropped in the wrong folder never appear at the domain.
- SSLThe certificate layer that encrypts traffic between browser and server; in practice you see TLS and HTTPS. The padlock is a trust cue, and HTTPS is a light ranking signal as well.
- CMSSoftware that separates content from code so editors can ship pages, images, and URLs as HTML. You should not need an FTP login for every glossary update.
- DomainThe name people type and see in the address bar: brand word plus extension. Email, TLS, and canonical URLs hang off it; swapping it on a whim splits every signal.
- BandwidthHow much data a host will transfer in a period: megabytes and gigabytes out, not headcount. A few heavy videos can exhaust a plan faster than a quiet text site.