What You Need to Know in Uploading Websites

Wondering how brands get their business up and running through websites made available for everyone to see on the internet? Uploading a website can be the gateway to putting your business on the map, an enhanced brand presence, better outreach, and increased sales.

The first website ever published was in 1991, and it only contained plain text and hyperlinks. Fast forward to today, where websites can contain complex animations, interactive elements, and personalized user experiences. With so much innovation in web design, it’s important to stay up to date with the latest methods for uploading and launching your website.

In this article, we’ll take a look at three main ways in which you can upload a website after you’ve secured a reliable hosting service and a domain name. We’ll compare each option’s advantages and disadvantages and provide examples that help you decide which route might be the most suitable for you. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced web developer, this article will provide you with the knowledge you need to get your website live and operational.

Section 1: File Manager

What Is a File Manager?

In the context of uploading websites, a file manager is a browser- or web-based tool on a hosting control panel that allows users to manage the files and folders associated with their website on the server.

When a user creates a website, they typically create files and folders that contain the website’s code, images, and other content. These files are then uploaded to a web hosting server, which makes them available on the internet. The user can use a file manager to perform common file management tasks, such as uploading, deleting, renaming, and organizing these files on the server.

The file manager provides a graphical interface that displays the user’s website files and folders on the server. The user can navigate through the files and folders and select and manipulate them using tools such as drag and drop or context menus. The file manager also provides additional features, such as setting file permissions, creating backups, and managing server logs.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a File Manager

Using a file manager to upload and edit files on your website:

• Is considered the easiest way to get the job done, especially when you need to solve failed uploads.
• Allows you to create new folders, upload files, make changes to files’ properties, delete files, and even recover deleted files from the recycle bin.
• Provides an environment pretty similar to the one on your PC that you’re already familiar with.
• Eliminates the need for an FTP client, SSH, or other third-party software.

However, a file manager might not be for you if you:

• Need to upload files exceeding 20 MB in size for most free plans.
• Require advanced functionality like resume support, file compression, and transfer speed control.
• Are concerned about data completeness, duplication, or redundancy.

An Example of a File Manager Tool

The most popular file manager tool in the market, Filestack offers industry-leading solutions without the hefty price tag or the struggle of maintenance. It features a sleek and customizable user interface that is not only intuitive but also provides unmatched file upload speeds. It is also platform-friendly, meaning users can upload and link to files directly from their online accounts. A single, stable API means both reliability and stability, and SDK compatibility means you can work with the language you like – JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, .NET, or Go. For example, if you need to add a React component to an existing HTML page, Filestack could definitely help.

Section 2: File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

What Is File Transfer Protocol?

As the name suggests, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a set of rules for transferring files between hosts over the internet. These hosts could either be remote servers or local computers. It is perhaps the most commonly used method for uploading and downloading a file to a website.

FTP works by establishing a connection between the user’s local computer and the remote server using a client-server architecture. The user connects to the remote server using an FTP client and provides credentials to the FTP server, which is a software program specifically designed for connecting to FTP servers.

Once the connection is established, the user can navigate through the files and directories on their local computer and the remote server. They can then transfer files between the two systems by either manually moving them across – ctrl+c and ctrl+v – or by dragging and dropping them between the local and remote file browsers in the FTP client.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using FTP

Some advantages of using an FTP include:

• User-friendly interface that makes it easy and convenient to use.
• Ability to transfer a larger number of files.
• Faster and more efficient than a web-based file manager.

However, FTP comes with its own drawbacks, some of which are given below.

• Lacks inherent security.
• Easier to hack due to unencrypted data transfer.
• Reliability on the cloud website hosting providers comes with associated risks.

Example of an FTP Client

The name that immediately comes to mind when you think about an FTP client is FileZilla, which is a free, open-source software tool available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports both FTP and SFTP, the latter of which is a secure form of the protocol. It comes equipped with a hoard of features, including a robust site manager, transferability of files greater than 4 GB, remote file editing and management, and synchronized directory browsing. While free for most uses, the premium FileZilla Pro version includes even more advanced features like protocol support for Amazon S3, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, and Google Cloud Storage.

Section 3: Automatic Website Importer

What Is an Automatic Website Importer?

Yet another method of uploading websites is an Automatic Website Importer, a tool designed to upload files directly to a website, sometimes using in-built widgets. It allows for drag-and-drop functionality, putting users in control and making the uploading and sharing process easier. 

Automatic website importers are the most commonly used method for creating and managing video-uploading, image-uploading, and photo-uploading websites. It stands out because any type of file can be uploaded, and the file uploading and sharing process itself is easy, straightforward, convenient, and secure.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using an Automatic Website Importer

An automatic website importer comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Most users prefer such a tool because it:

• Makes file uploading and sharing quick and straightforward.
• Keeps transferred files secure using encrypted cloud storage.
• Allows you to upload any type of file and create shareable links to uploaded files.

However, users sometimes prefer using other methods of uploading sites because an automatic website importer:

• Files are permanently deleted if removed from the tool’s file-hosting system.
• Puts a cap of 5 GB for free users.
• Retains files for only 30 days if you’re a guest user.

An Example of an Automatic Website Importer Tool

Ufile.io is a prime example of an automatic website importer tool. It allows for hassle-free upload of multiple file types to any website, in addition to hosting all uploaded files on their own servers. Its file upload widget is perhaps its crown jewel since it is not only extremely easy to set up with minimal coding knowledge required, but it also allows you to access uploaded files using an easy-to-use JSON response. Perhaps its most defining feature is the security it provides, as all data transfers are fully encrypted and sent over HTTPS.

Conclusion

There are numerous ways of uploading websites and uploading files to websites. File managers and FTP clients have been around for longer, but tools like automatic website importers are increasingly being adopted due to their ease of use and convenience.

However, before you decide to upload your website, make sure to test it thoroughly for functionality and ensure that you’ve chosen a reliable web hosting provider. Optimize the media you choose to upload and use a secure connection when making the uploads. Maintaining regular backups of your website to prevent data loss in case of any technical issues or cyber-attacks is also a great idea.

Keep yourself updated on the newest trends and solutions, such as test management tools, to keep your websites running smoothly.