To receive a file transmitted over a network. In any communications session, "download" means receive, and "upload" means send. The download/upload often implies a big/little scenario, in which data are being downloaded from the "big" server into the "little" user's computer. Uploading implies sending data from the little computer to the big computer.

The time it takes to download data depends on the size of the file and network speed. Via the standard V.92 analog dial-up modem, small Web pages take a few seconds if everything is running smoothly, but a 20MB video file can take an hour. Downloading over a DSL or cable modem can be 15 to 400 times as fast. Downloading from a file server on a local network (LAN) can even be faster.

From the Internet
Downloading files from the Internet has become a snap with "click here to download this file" messages on Web pages. Your Web browser prompts you where to save the file. If the file is software that has to be installed, most browsers give you the option of running the program without worrying about where to save it first. See download protocol and client download.

From the Local LAN
On a network server in your company's LAN, sharable files are placed in public folders that can be downloaded using the normal file management procedures of the operating system. For example, in a Windows LAN, My Network Places or Network Neighborhood can be used to locate sharable files by computer name, drive letter, folder and file name.

Download to Your iPod

Transferring files from your computer to your iPod or other digital music player is actually copying between storage devices on the same computer. When plugged into a USB port, the music player becomes another hard drive to the computer. While this is not a network connection, the phrase "downloading to the music player" is widely used. In this case, it takes on the big/little implication: the "big" computer is transmitting to the "little" music player.