Which protocol is utilized for transferring files and folders over a network or the Internet?

The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is specifically designed for transferring files and folders over a network or the Internet. It allows users to upload and download files from a server, making it an essential tool for web developers and IT professionals who need to manage files on web servers or share large amounts of data between systems. FTP operates on a client-server model, where the client connects to the FTP server to initiate the transfer of files.

While other protocols listed have important roles in networking and data transmission, they are not designed for file transfers in the way FTP is. For instance, SMTP is dedicated to sending and receiving email, HTTP is utilized for transferring web pages and their associated content, and TCP is a transport layer protocol that ensures the reliable transmission of data across networks but does not itself handle file operations. Thus, FTP stands out as the appropriate choice for file and folder transfer.