What is the command to download a file in FTP?

The command to download a file in FTP is get.

When working with an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) command-line interface, retrieving a file from a remote server to your local machine is a straightforward process. You employ the get command, followed by the exact name of the file you wish to retrieve. Conversely, to upload files, the put command is used, also followed by the file's name.

Understanding the FTP get Command

The get command is fundamental for downloading files from an FTP server. It initiates the transfer of a specified file from the connected remote server to your current local directory.

Syntax:

get [remote-filename] [local-filename]

• [remote-filename]: The name of the file on the FTP server you want to download. This is a required parameter.
• [local-filename] (optional): The name you want to give the file once it's saved on your local machine. If omitted, the file will be saved with its original remote-filename.

How to Download a File Using FTP Command Line

Before you can use the get command, you need to establish an FTP connection to the server. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Open your terminal or command prompt.
2. Connect to the FTP server:

   ftp [ftp.your-domain.com]

   You will then be prompted to enter your username and password.

3. Navigate to the correct directory on the remote server (if needed):

   cd /path/to/remote/directory

4. Navigate to your desired local directory (if needed):

   lcd /path/to/local/directory

5. Set the transfer mode (optional but recommended):
   • For text files (e.g., .txt, .html, .php), use ascii.
   • For binary files (e.g., .zip, .jpg, .pdf, .exe), use binary.

     binary

     or

     ascii

     Setting the correct mode prevents file corruption, especially for binary files.

6. Execute the get command to download the file:

   get mydocument.pdf

   This will download mydocument.pdf from the remote server to your current local directory.
   If you want to save it with a different name locally:

   get mydocument.pdf new_name.pdf

7. Exit the FTP session:

   bye

   or

   quit

Practical Insights and Advanced Commands

Beyond a single file download, the FTP command line offers more powerful features:

• Downloading Multiple Files (mget): If you need to download several files that follow a pattern, you can use mget with wildcards.

  mget *.jpg

  This command will prompt you for confirmation before downloading each .jpg file in the remote directory.

• Listing Files: To see what files are available on the remote server, use the ls or dir command.

  ls

• Transfer Modes: Understanding ASCII and Binary modes is crucial for successful transfers.
  • ASCII Mode: Used for plain text files. It handles character set conversions between different operating systems.
  • Binary Mode: Used for all non-text files (images, archives, executables, videos, etc.). It transfers the file byte-for-byte without any conversion, preserving its integrity. Always use binary mode for files other than pure text.
• Checking Current Directories:
  • pwd: Shows the present working directory on the remote server.
  • lpwd: Shows the present working directory on your local machine.

Common FTP Commands Overview

Command	Description	Example Usage
open	Connects to an FTP server.	open ftp.example.com
user	Specifies the username for logging in.	user myusername
pass	Specifies the password for logging in.	pass mypassword
ls	Lists files and directories on the remote server.	ls or dir
cd	Changes the current directory on the remote server.	cd public_html
lcd	Changes the current directory on the local machine.	lcd /Downloads
get	Downloads a single file from the remote server to the local machine.	get remote_file.txt
put	Uploads a single file from the local machine to the remote server.	put local_file.zip
mget	Downloads multiple files from the remote server using wildcards.	mget *.doc
mput	Uploads multiple files from the local machine using wildcards.	mput *.bak
binary	Sets the transfer mode to binary.	binary
ascii	Sets the transfer mode to ASCII.	ascii
delete	Deletes a file on the remote server.	delete old_file.log
mkdir	Creates a new directory on the remote server.	mkdir new_folder
rmdir	Deletes an empty directory on the remote server.	rmdir old_folder
bye	Closes the FTP connection and exits.	bye or quit

For more detailed information on FTP and its commands, you can refer to resources like IBM's FTP documentation or Microsoft Learn's networking guides.