Using the Mac Command Line for FTP and SFTP

When it comes to transferring files between your local machine and a remote server, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a popular choice. While there are many third-party FTP clients available, you can also use the command line interface built into macOS to connect to an FTP or SFTP server. In this article, we'll explore how to do just that.

Setting Up Your Connection

To get started, you'll need a username and password for your FTP/SFTP account. Once you have these details, you can open the Terminal application on your Mac (located in Applications/Utilities). Type `ftp` followed by the address of the FTP server, using the following format: `ftp://username:password@ftp.server.com`. For example: `ftp://johndoe:mypassword@myftpserver.com`.

Basic FTP/SFTP Commands

Once you've connected to your server, you can use a variety of commands to manage your files. Here are some basic ones to get you started:

* cd: Change directory (e.g., `cd /path/to/directory`)

* get: Download a file (e.g., `get filename.txt`)

* put: Upload a file (e.g., `put filename.txt`)

* rename: Rename a file (e.g., `rename oldname newname`)

* delete: Delete a file (e.g., `delete filename.txt`)

Additional Tips and Tricks

If you're new to using the command line for FTP/SFTP, don't worry if things seem confusing at first. The `ftp` command comes with built-in help functionality - simply type `help` followed by enter to access a list of available commands.

If you prefer a graphical interface, there are many third-party FTP clients available for Mac, including FileZilla and Cyberduck.

Using the Mac command line for FTP/SFTP may not be as flashy as some of the more popular GUI-based clients, but it's a powerful tool that can help you manage your files with ease. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we hope this article has given you a solid introduction to using the `ftp` command on your Mac.

Mac ftp command line