Uploading and download files

Uploading is the transmission of a file from one computer system to another, usually larger computer system. From a network user's point-of-view, to upload a file is to send it to another computer that is set up to receive it.

Transmission in the other direction is downloading -- from one, usually larger computer to another, usually smaller computer. From an Internet user's point-of-view, downloading is receiving a file from another computer.

The File Transfer Protocol ( FTP ) is the Internet facility for downloading and uploading files. (If you are uploading a file to another site, you must usually have permission in advance to access the site and the directory where the file is to be placed.)

When you send or receive an attached file with an e-mail note, this is just an attachment, not a download or an upload. However, in practice, many people use "upload" to mean "send" and "download" to mean receive. The term is used loosely in practice and if someone says to you "Download (or upload) such--and-such a file to me" via e-mail, they simply mean "Send it to me."

In short, from the ordinary workstation or small computer user's point-of-view, to upload is to send a file and to download is to receive a file.

Uploading is the transmission of a file from one computer system to another, usually larger computer system. From a network user's point-of-view, to upload a file is to send it to another computer that is set up to receive it.

Transmission in the other direction is downloading -- from one, usually larger computer to another, usually smaller computer. From an Internet user's point-of-view, downloading is receiving a file from another computer.

The File Transfer Protocol ( FTP ) is the Internet facility for downloading and uploading files. (If you are uploading a file to another site, you must usually have permission in advance to access the site and the directory where the file is to be placed.)

When you send or receive an attached file with an e-mail note, this is just an attachment, not a download or an upload. However, in practice, many people use "upload" to mean "send" and "download" to mean receive. The term is used loosely in practice and if someone says to you "Download (or upload) such--and-such a file to me" via e-mail, they simply mean "Send it to me."

In short, from the ordinary workstation or small computer user's point-of-view, to upload is to send a file and to download is to receive a file.

Download Image -

The use of the terms uploading and downloading often imply that the data sent or received is to be stored permanently, or at least stored more than temporarily.

Steps to download -

In the below example we're using Microsoft Internet Explorer as the example because it is the most commonly used browser today. Although not all browsers use the same steps, following these steps should help answer many of your questions about downloading a file.

•  To download a file through a website, first click on the link for the file you wish to download, in some cases the website may automatically start the download process after waiting a few seconds.
•  Next, the browser should prompt you on what to do with the file. Unless you immediately wish to run the program, it is recommended you select the option to save the file and place the file somewhere you're going to remember. For Windows users we suggest saving the file to the desktop.
•  After the file has been downloaded, if the file is an executable file, double-click the file to start the setup of the program. Many times, however, the file is a compressed file and requires another program be run to extract the file's contents before the setup for the program can be run.
•  Finally, it is important to realize that files on the Internet may contain computer viruses; the best method in protecting yourself from computer viruses is to make sure your virus scanner is up to date. Additional information and help about computer viruses can be found on our virus help page.