| Full form | Hypertext Transfer Protocol | File Transfer Protocol |
| Purpose | Primarily designed for web page retrieval and communication between web browsers and servers | Specifically designed for file transfer between client and server |
| Port | Typically uses port 80 | Typically uses port 21 for control and port 20 for data transfer |
| Data Transfer | Transfers hypertext and multimedia content such as web pages, images, videos, etc. | Transfers files between client and server |
| Security | No inherent encryption or security features | Supports FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS) for secure file transfer |
| Authentication | Supports basic authentication and other authentication mechanisms | Supports username/password authentication for access control |
| Access Control | Relies on server-side permissions and access control configurations | Supports various access control mechanisms like read, write, and execute permissions |
| Connection Type | Stateless, connectionless protocol | Connection-oriented protocol with control and data connections |
| Commands | Uses simple commands such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc. | Uses specific commands like RETR (retrieve), STOR (store), LIST (directory listing), etc. |
| Directory Navigation | Limited support for directory navigation | Provides directory listing and navigation commands |
| Use Cases | Used for accessing websites and retrieving web content | Used for uploading, downloading, and managing files on a remote server |
| Support | Widely supported by web browsers and servers | Widely supported by FTP client and server software |
