sftp

Connect to a remote server

$ sftp [user]@[hostname]

$ sftp -P [port] [user]@[hostname]

$ sftp> put [local_file] [remote_path]

$ sftp> get [remote_file] [local_path]

$ sftp> put -r [local_directory]

$ sftp> get -r [remote_directory]

$ sftp> ls

$ sftp> cd [remote_path]

sftp [-P port] [-i identityfile] [user**@**]host[**:**path_]

sftp is the SSH File Transfer Protocol client, providing secure interactive file transfer over SSH connections. It offers a familiar FTP-like interface while using SSH for authentication and encryption.
Unlike FTP, SFTP encrypts all data including credentials and file contents. It uses a single connection (no separate data channel) making it firewall-friendly.
The interface supports both interactive use and batch mode (-b) for scripting. Tab completion works for both local and remote paths in most implementations.
SFTP can transfer binary and text files without mode switches and preserves file attributes like permissions and timestamps.

-P port

Connect to specified port (note: uppercase P, unlike ssh)

Use specified private key file

Batch mode; read commands from file

Enable compression

Recursively copy directories (with get/put)

Verbose mode

Pass option to SSH (e.g., -o "ProxyJump=jump-host")

ls [path]: List remote directory
lls [path]: List local directory
cd path: Change remote directory
lcd path: Change local directory
pwd: Print remote working directory
lpwd: Print local working directory
get [-r] remote [local]: Download file/directory
put [-r] local [remote]: Upload file/directory
mkdir path: Create remote directory
rmdir path: Remove remote directory
rm file: Delete remote file
rename old new: Rename remote file
chmod mode file: Change remote file permissions
chown uid file: Change remote file owner
! command: Execute local shell command
exit or quit: Close connection

Port is specified with uppercase -P, not lowercase -p like SSH. This is a common source of confusion.
SFTP is different from FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS). SFTP uses SSH; FTPS uses the FTP protocol with TLS encryption.
For automated transfers, use batch mode (-b) or consider rsync over SSH for more sophisticated synchronization.
Symbolic links are followed by default. Use get -P or put -P to preserve symlinks as symlinks.

scp(1), ssh(1), rsync(1), ftp(1)