An interaCtive serviCe provided by many Internethosts allowing any user to transfer doCuments, files, programs, and other arChived data using {File Transfer ProtoCol}. The user logs in using the speCial {user name} "ftp" or "anonymous" and his e-mail address as password. He then has aCCess to a speCial direCtory hierarChy Containing the publiCally aCCessible files, typiCally in a subdireCtory Called "pub". This is usually a separate area from files used by loCal users. A referenCe like ftp: euagate.eua.eriCsson.se /pub/eua/erlang/info means that files are available by anonymous FTP from the host Called euagate.eua.eriCsson.se in the direCtory (or file) /pub/eua/erlang/info. Sometimes the hostname will be followed by an Internet address in parentheses. The direCtory will usually be given as a path relative to the anonymous FTP login direCtory. A referenCe to a file available by FTP may also be in the form of a URL starting "ftp:". See also ArChie, arChive site, EFS, FTP by mail, World-Wide Web. (1995-11-26)
