FTP vs. HTTP

FTP (file transfer protocol) and HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) are application layer protocols that are used to transfer information.

Let’s explore the significant differences between FTP and HTTP.

• FTP sends connection information out-of-band as it uses two parallel TCPs to transfer files. The control connection is used to send information like passwords, and the data connection is used to send actual data.

• The FTP server maintains state information like the user’s current directory for a particular session.

• The client-side needs to authenticate itself in order to transfer information.

• The server keeps track of a users’ state, which constrains the total number of sessions that FTP can maintain simultaneously.​

• HTTP transfers control information in-band as it uses the same connection to transfer data as it does to control information.

• HTTP is stateless. The server does not need to keep track of any user’s state.

• The client may or may not authenticate themselves, i.e., client authentication is not mandatory.

• Because HTTP is stateless, it can easily maintain multiple sessions simultaneously.