How does an SFTP work?

 
SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol, also known as Secure File Transfer Protocol) is a secure file transfer protocol that runs over an SSH (Secure Shell) connection. Unlike FTP, SFTP encrypts both the data being transferred and the commands used to transfer it, providing a secure and reliable way to transfer files.


When an SFTP client connects to an SFTP server, it first establishes an SSH connection to the server. Once the SSH connection is established, the client and server can negotiate the SFTP protocol version and the client can authenticate to the server using a username and password or a public key.


Once the authentication is successful, the client and server can exchange SFTP commands and data over the secure SSH connection. The SFTP protocol includes commands for transferring files, listing the contents of a directory, and deleting files. The SFTP client and server use these commands to perform file transfers, and the data being transferred is encrypted in transit.


Overall, SFTP provides a secure and reliable way to transfer files over an insecure network, such as the Internet.