Which protocol is used for exchanging files between a web browser and a web server?

The correct answer is HTTP, which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is the foundational protocol used for transmitting data over the web, specifically for the exchange of files like HTML documents, images, and other resources between a web browser and a web server. When you enter a web address in your browser, HTTP is used to request the web page from the server, and the server responds by sending the requested files back to the browser.

HTTP operates at a higher level in the networking stack, making it well-suited for managing browser-server communications, particularly the various types of content that users access on the internet. Its design allows for the transfer of hypertext, which includes links and resources needed to display web pages in browsers effectively.

Other options, while related to data transmission, serve different purposes. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) focuses specifically on transferring files between computers on a network but is not primarily intended for web browsing. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is designed for sending emails, not for file exchange between web browsers and servers. Finally, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a transport layer protocol that underlies many internet protocols, including HTTP, but is not specifically designed for file exchange between web browsers and web servers.