List of FTP commands

Below is a list of FTP commands that may be sent to an FTP host, including all commands that are standardized in RFC 959 by the IETF. All commands below are RFC 959 based unless stated otherwise. These commands differ in use between clients. For example, GET is used instead of RETR, but most clients parse this into the proper command. In this, GET is the user command and RETR is the raw command.

* ABOR - Abort an active file transfer.
* ACCT - Account information.
* ADAT - Authentication/Security Data (RFC 2228)
* ALLO - Allocate sufficient disk space to receive a file.
* APPE - Append.
* AUTH - Authentication/Security Mechanism (RFC 2228)
* CCC - Clear Command Channel (RFC 2228)
* CDUP - Change to Parent Directory.
* CONF - Confidentiality Protection Command (RFC 697)
* CWD - Change working directory.
* DELE - Delete file.
* ENC - Privacy Protected Channel (RFC 2228)
* EPRT - Specifies an extended address and port to which the server should connect. (RFC 2428)
* EPSV - Enter extended passive mode. (RFC 2428)
* FEAT - Get the feature list implemented by the server. (RFC 2389)
* HELP - Returns usage documentation on a command if specified, else a general help document is returned.
* LAND - Language Negotiation (RFC 2640)
* LIST - Returns information of a file or directory if specified, else information of the current working directory is returned.
* LPRT - Specifies a long address and port to which the server should connect. (RFC 1639)
* LPSV - Enter long passive mode. (RFC 1639)
* MDTM - Return the last-modified time of a specified file. (RFC 3659)
* MIC - Integrity Protected Command (RFC 2228)
* MKD - Make directory.
* MLSD - Provides data about exactly the object named on its command line, and no others. (RFC 3659)
* MLST - Lists the contents of a directory if a directory is named. (RFC 3659)
* MODE - Sets the transfer mode (Stream, Block, or Compressed).
* NLST - Returns a list of file names in a specified directory.
* NOOP - No operation (dummy packet; used mostly on keepalives).
* OPTS - Select options for a feature. (RFC 2389)
* PASS - Authentication password.
* PASV - Enter passive mode.
* PBSZ - Protection Buffer Size (RFC 2228)
* PORT - Specifies an address and port to which the server should connect.
* PWD - Print working directory. Returns the current directory of the host.
* QUIT - Disconnect.
* REIN - Re initializes the connection.
* REST - Restart transfer from the specified point.
* RETR - Retrieve (download) a remote file.
* RMD - Remove a directory.
* RNFR - Rename from.
* RNTO - Rename to.
* SITE - Sends site specific commands to remote server.
* SIZE - Return the size of a file. (RFC 3659)
* SMNT - Mount file structure.
* STAT - Returns the current status.
* STOR - Store (upload) a file.
* STOU - Store file uniquely.
* STRU - Set file transfer structure.
* SYST - Return system type.
* TYPE - Sets the transfer mode (ASCII/Binary).
* USER - Authentication username.

See also

* List of FTP server return codes - in response to commands from a client, the FTP server returns reply codes

External links

* RFC 697 - CWD Command of FTP
* RFC 959 - File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
* RFC 1639 - FTP Operation Over Big Address Records (FOOBAR)
* RFC 2228 - FTP Security Extensions
* RFC 2389 - Feature negotiation mechanism for the File Transfer Protocol
* RFC 2428 - FTP Extensions for IPv6 and NATs
* RFC 2640 - Internationalization of the File Transfer Protocol
* RFC 3659 - Extensions to FTP
* [http://www.nsftools.com/tips/RawFTP.htm Raw FTP command list]