Difference between http and ftp

[islamfunny]

I really encounter a big misunderstanding between HTTP and FTP. When i deployed a file on my http server and requested its path on a browser my download manager popped up?Then i can download files and page (and may be any thing ,who knows then) using http .What do we use FTP for?

[Norm]

These are two flavors of internet protocols for communication between two computers.
HTtp - HyperText transmission protocol
FTp - File Transfer protocol
These protocols are defined in some RFC document. Using Google you can find them and read all about them.

HTTP is used by browsers to view pages.
FTP is used to upload and download files.

[Eranga]

Norm, using HTTP we can download as well, right? In lite weight applications I used it with HttpUrlConnection.

[Norm]

Eranga,
Yes HTTP can be used to copy files both ways.

[Eranga]

Ya, that's fine. I like to use HTTP for avoiding proxy actually, with port 5001. :)

[Niveditha]

Hi,
I would like to add point on this.
As norm mentioned HTTP is for page transfer and FTP is for file transfer.
We can transfer a file by using HTTP but it may result in Performance issues as it may slow down your process.

[Eranga]

It can cause much damage in larger file transferring actually. That's why I mentioned that suitable for light weight applications. In most of the applications I use HTTP connections for file transfer, because no need to worry about proxy. ;) But not at all.