Uploading and downloading
Encyclopedia
In computer network
s, to download means to receive data to a local system from a remote system, or to initiate such a data transfer. Examples of a remote system from which a download might be performed include a webserver, FTP server
, email
server, or other similar systems. Downloading or uploading is relative to the system involved, for example a PC downloads a file from a server while the server is uploading that file to that PC, it has nothing to do with the size of the systems involved (see Sideload below).
A download can mean either any file that is offered for downloading or that has been downloaded, or the process of receiving such a file.
It has become more common to mistake and confuse the meaning of downloading and installing or simply combine them incorrectly together.
The inverse operation, uploading, can refer to the sending of data from a local system to a remote system such as a server or another client with the intent that the remote system should store a copy of the data being transferred, or the initiation of such a process.
The words first came into popular usage among computer user
s with the increased popularity of Bulletin Board System
s (BBSs), facilitated by the widespread distribution and implementation of dial-up access the in the 1970s.
, which indicates the receiving of data that is used near immediately as it is received, while the transmission is still in progress and which may not be stored long-term, whereas in a process described using the term downloading, this would imply that the data is only usable when it has been received in its entirety.
Increasingly, websites that offer streaming media or media displayed in-browser, such as YouTube
, and which place restrictions on the ability of users to save these materials to their computers after they have been received, say that downloading is not permitted. In this context, "download" implies specifically "receive and save" instead of simply "receive". However, it is also important to note that "downloading" is not the same as "transferring" (i.e., sending/receiving data between two storage devices would be a transferral of data, but receiving data from the Internet would be considered a download of data).
s.
Remote uploading is also used in situations where the computers that need to share data are located on a distant high speed local area network
, and the remote control is being performed using a comparatively slow dialup modem connection.
For example:
Without remote uploading functionality, the user would be required to download the file first to their local host and then re-upload it to the remote file hosting server.
Where the connection to the remote computers is via a dialup connection, the transfer time required to download locally and then re-upload could increase from seconds, to hours or days.
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
s, to download means to receive data to a local system from a remote system, or to initiate such a data transfer. Examples of a remote system from which a download might be performed include a webserver, FTP server
File Transfer Protocol
File Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP is built on a client-server architecture and utilizes separate control and data connections between the client and server...
Email
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
server, or other similar systems. Downloading or uploading is relative to the system involved, for example a PC downloads a file from a server while the server is uploading that file to that PC, it has nothing to do with the size of the systems involved (see Sideload below).
A download can mean either any file that is offered for downloading or that has been downloaded, or the process of receiving such a file.
It has become more common to mistake and confuse the meaning of downloading and installing or simply combine them incorrectly together.
The inverse operation, uploading, can refer to the sending of data from a local system to a remote system such as a server or another client with the intent that the remote system should store a copy of the data being transferred, or the initiation of such a process.
The words first came into popular usage among computer user
Computer User
Computer User is a computer magazine originally founded in 1982, and which, after several owners and fundamental changes, is still in business today online as computeruser.com...
s with the increased popularity of Bulletin Board System
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
s (BBSs), facilitated by the widespread distribution and implementation of dial-up access the in the 1970s.
Download
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. In contrast, the term downloading is distinguished from the related concept of streamingStreaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
, which indicates the receiving of data that is used near immediately as it is received, while the transmission is still in progress and which may not be stored long-term, whereas in a process described using the term downloading, this would imply that the data is only usable when it has been received in its entirety.
Increasingly, websites that offer streaming media or media displayed in-browser, such as YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, and which place restrictions on the ability of users to save these materials to their computers after they have been received, say that downloading is not permitted. In this context, "download" implies specifically "receive and save" instead of simply "receive". However, it is also important to note that "downloading" is not the same as "transferring" (i.e., sending/receiving data between two storage devices would be a transferral of data, but receiving data from the Internet would be considered a download of data).
Sideload
When applied to local transfers (sending data from one local system to another local system), it is often difficult to decide if it is an upload or download, as both source and destination are in the local control of the user. Technically if the user uses the receiving device to initiate the transfer then it would be a download and if they used the sending device to initiate it would be an upload. However, as most non-technical users tend to use the term download to refer to any data transfer, the term "sideload" is sometimes being used to cover all local to local transfers to end this confusion.Remote upload
When there is a transfer of data from a remote system to another remote system, the process is called "remote uploading". This is used by some online file hosting serviceFile hosting service
A file hosting service, online file storage provider, or cyberlocker is an Internet hosting service specifically designed to host user files. Typically they allow HTTP and FTP access. Related services are content-displaying hosting services A file hosting service, online file storage provider, or...
s.
Remote uploading is also used in situations where the computers that need to share data are located on a distant high speed local area network
Local area network
A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...
, and the remote control is being performed using a comparatively slow dialup modem connection.
For example:
- The user remotely accesses a file hosting service at MyRemoteHost.
- The user finds a public file at PublicRemoteHost and wants to keep a copy in their MyRemoteHost.
- To have it done they "remote upload" the file from PublicRemoteHost to MyRemoteHost.
- None of the hosts are located on the user's local network.
Without remote uploading functionality, the user would be required to download the file first to their local host and then re-upload it to the remote file hosting server.
Where the connection to the remote computers is via a dialup connection, the transfer time required to download locally and then re-upload could increase from seconds, to hours or days.
See also
- BitTorrent (protocol)
- Bulletin Board SystemBulletin board systemA Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
- Download managerDownload managerA download manager is a computer program dedicated to the task of downloading possibly unrelated stand-alone files from the Internet for storage...
- File sharingFile sharingFile sharing is the practice of distributing or providing access to digitally stored information, such as computer programs, multimedia , documents, or electronic books. It may be implemented through a variety of ways...
- File Transfer ProtocolFile Transfer ProtocolFile Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP is built on a client-server architecture and utilizes separate control and data connections between the client and server...
- MediaFireMediaFireMediaFire is a free file and image hosting web site that started in 2006 and is located in Harris County, Texas, United States. The domain mediafire.com attracted almost 60 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a Compete.com study.- Features :...
- MetalinkMetalinkMetalink is a cross-platform and cross-application Internet standard/framework/file format for programs that download, including download managers, BitTorrent clients, Web browsers, FTP clients, and P2P programs...
- Music downloadMusic downloadA music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
- Peer-to-peerPeer-to-peerPeer-to-peer computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads among peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application...