Common FTP Commands Every Student Should Know

Mastering fundamental FTP commands provides the foundation for understanding file transfer operations across all protocols. These commands form the basis of FTP, FTPS, and many SFTP operations.

Connection Commands:

• USER username – Authenticate with username
• PASS password – Provide password
• QUIT – Close connection

Navigation Commands:

• PWD – Print working directory
• CWD directory – Change working directory
• LIST – List directory contents
• CDUP – Change to parent directory

Transfer Commands:

• RETR filename – Download file
• STOR filename – Upload file
• TYPE mode – Set transfer mode (ASCII/Binary)
• PASV – Enter passive mode

File Management:

• DELE filename – Delete file
• MKD directory – Create directory
• RMD directory – Remove directory
• RNFR/RNTO – Rename files

Understanding these commands helps students troubleshoot transfer issues and comprehend how graphical FTP clients communicate with servers. Many SFTP clients also support similar command structures, making this knowledge transferable across protocols.