Short for "file transfer protocol," FTP is a method for transferring data to/from web servers via a slightly different method than used by web browsers (which use the http method). FTP software is used to upload files to your virtual, shared, or dedicated web server site. FTP can also be used for direct downloads of files and images from a web server without being served from the public html directory (anonymous FTP). FTP access to a web server requires a password and username in order to gain access to the file/folder directories of a virtual domain.