File Manager vs FTP

Handling files on a website can pose a considerable challenge, particularly for those lacking technical expertise in website management. Fortunately, there are various tools at your disposal, such as File Manager and FTP (File Transfer Protocol), to facilitate this process. While both tools serve the purpose of file management, they diverge in terms of their features, user-friendliness, and technical requirements. In the following blog post, we will delve into the disparities between File Manager and FTP, enabling you to discern which tool aligns better with your website management requirements.

What is cPanel File Manager?

cPanel File Manager emerges as a web-based file management tool integrated within the cPanel web hosting control panel. Its purpose is to enable website owners to effortlessly handle their website files via a user-friendly graphical interface, without the necessity of an external FTP client or other software.

With cPanel File Manager, you gain the ability to perform a multitude of tasks on your website’s server, including uploading, downloading, moving, copying, renaming, and deleting files and folders. Additionally, you can edit text files, modify file permissions, generate new files and folders, as well as compress or extract files and folders into ZIP or tar archives.

The interface offered by cPanel File Manager is intuitive and familiar, designed to streamline the management of website files, even for individuals lacking experience with command-line interfaces or FTP clients. This proves to be an invaluable tool for website owners who seek to swiftly make changes to their website files, all without the need for supplementary software or extensive technical knowledge.

What is FTP?

FTP, an abbreviation for File Transfer Protocol, represents a standard network protocol employed for the transfer of files between a client (such as your computer or device) and a server (typically a remote computer or device) over the internet.

With its widespread usage, FTP has become a popular method for uploading, downloading, and administering files on a website’s server. It grants website owners the capability to transfer sizable files, encompassing multimedia files, software, and website backups, between their local computer and the server. Furthermore, web developers and designers commonly rely on FTP to transfer files to and from the server during website development and maintenance.

The functioning of FTP relies on establishing a connection between the client and the server, allowing the client to authenticate itself by providing a username and password. Once authenticated, the client gains access to files and directories stored on the server, enabling the transfer of files in both directions.

Several FTP clients are available to facilitate connections to FTP servers and facilitate file transfers. Popular examples include FileZilla, Cyberduck, and WinSCP. Although FTP serves as a valuable tool for managing website files, it does require a certain level of technical knowledge and may pose challenges for beginners.

What is the difference between File Manager and FTP?

File Manager and FTP are both tools used to manage files on a website, but they differ in several ways. Here are some of the main differences between File Manager and FTP:

• Accessibility: File Manager is a web-based tool that is typically included in web hosting control panels like cPanel. This means it can be accessed through a web browser from anywhere with an internet connection. FTP, on the other hand, requires a separate client software installed on your computer to connect to the remote server.
• Ease of use: File Manager is generally easier to use than FTP. It offers a graphical user interface that is familiar and user-friendly. This makes it a good choice for website owners who are not experienced with command-line interfaces or FTP clients. FTP, on the other hand, requires some technical knowledge and can be challenging for beginners to use.
• Features: While both File Manager and FTP allow you to manage files on your website’s server, they differ in terms of their features. File Manager typically has a limited set of features compared to FTP. FTP clients usually offer more advanced features such as file synchronization, recursive file transfers, and remote file editing.
• Security: FTP is considered less secure than File Manager since it transfers files in plain text, which can be intercepted by attackers. File Manager uses encrypted connections, making it more secure.
• Performance: FTP is generally faster than File Manager when transferring large files. This is because FTP clients can use multiple connections to transfer files in parallel, while File Manager uses a single connection.

In summary, File Manager is a more accessible, user-friendly, and secure tool for managing files on a website, while FTP is a more powerful tool with more advanced features and better performance for transferring large files.

How to upload a File to a Website?

To upload a file to a website using cPanel File Manager, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your cPanel account.

2. Navigate to the “Files” section and click on “File Manager”.
3. Navigate to the directory where you want to upload the file. You can navigate by clicking on the folders in the left-hand panel.

4. Click on the “Upload” button in the top toolbar.
5. Click on the “Select File” button to select the file you want to upload. You can also drag and drop the file into the upload window.
6. Once you’ve selected the file, click on the “Upload” button to start the upload process. The progress bar will show you the progress of the upload.
7. Once the upload is complete, you can close the upload window and navigate to the directory where you uploaded the file to confirm that it has been uploaded successfully.

Note that the exact steps may vary slightly depending on the web hosting provider and the version of cPanel being used.

Conclusion

In summary, managing files on a website is a crucial aspect of website management, and various tools, such as File Manager and FTP, are available for this purpose. The selection between these tools relies on individual requirements and technical proficiency. File Manager presents itself as a user-friendly, accessible, and secure option for file management, catering to a wider range of users. On the other hand, FTP offers advanced features and improved performance, making it ideal for transferring large files. Regardless of the chosen tool, it remains imperative to comprehend the process of uploading and managing files on a website to ensure seamless operation and sustained success of the website.