What is the primary purpose of a file transfer protocol?

The primary purpose of a file transfer protocol (FTP) is to facilitate the copying of files over the internet or within networks. FTP allows users to upload, download, and manage files from a server, ensuring that data can be transferred between different systems efficiently. It is specifically designed to handle file transfers, making it a foundational technology for sharing files online.

While establishing secure communication links and managing security of network connections are important aspects of network protocols, these do not capture the primary function of FTP. FTP itself can operate in secure modes, such as SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), but the core purpose remains focused on file copying and transfer. Deleting files from a computer, on the other hand, does not align with the intended use of FTP, which is concerned with transport rather than file management.