Thursday, December 5, 2024
Archived Post

Reader Email: What does the term “upload” mean?

We get a lot of email, and some of it comes in the form of questions from readers. Now, while some of those questions may seem simple and easy to answer, it’s obvious that many readers are afraid to ask us the same questions! In this new “Reader Email” series, I’ll list some of the questions that we’ve received and answer them in the most straightforward terms possible.

Have an Apple-related question for me? Zap me an email and I’ll try to answer it to the best of my knowledge. All questions will remain anonymous. Here’s today’s question:


Question: What does the term “upload” mean? 


Answer: We all do a lot of downloading — that is, having data sent from another computer or server to our Macs, iPhones and iPads. For instance, any time you take a look at Apple World Today’s home page, your web browser is downloading pictures, text, and even a lot of programming code in the form of formatting and ads. 

Uploading isn’t done as much by most people, but it’s basically sending data from YOUR computer or device to another computer. When we’re writing posts for Apple World Today, we have to upload picture files for each article using a web-based content management / blogging tool. The process involves choosing an image, then using a built-in file uploader in the content management system to move the photo from our computers to the Apple World Today hosting system. There’s a lot going on in the background, but it’s actually pretty simple for us. Back in the old days we had to use File Transfer Protocol (FTP) software to upload photos to our content management system, then manually link a long file name in an article in order to get the photo to show up. It’s a lot easier now. 

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Steve Sande
the authorSteve Sande
Steve is the founder and former publisher of Apple World Today and has authored a number of books about Apple products. He's an avid photographer, an FAA-licensed drone pilot, and a really bad guitarist. Steve and his wife Barb love to travel everywhere!