FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. This protocol is used to transfer files. As far as web hosting goes, you will need to transfer your website files from your computer to the web host server in order for your site to be live and online. You will typically do this using a FTP client browser utility.

Examples of FTP client browser utilities are WS_FTP which is a popular FTP client application available for PC. The company that makes this, IPSwitch also makes Fetch, an FTP client for the Mac. Other FTP clients for the Mac include CyberDuck which is a nice FTP client utility available for free on the Mac, or Transmit a really nice Mac FTP client that comes at a small cost.

Anyway, these are just a few FTP clients out there but what is most important is that you choose one that you like and that you are comfortable with. A quick search on the internet will allow you to find many FTP clients and you can pick and choose. You will ultimately use this a lot if you plan on developing websites, as you upload the website initially and also as you transfer documents back and forth, whether they are PDF files, images, web files, etc.