File Sharing Glossary - Key Terms Explained

File Sharing

The practice of distributing or providing access to digital files over a network. File sharing can be done via email attachments, cloud storage, peer-to-peer networks or dedicated services like EasySend.

End-to-End Encryption (E2E)

A security method where data is encrypted on the sender's device and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient. The server that transmits the data cannot read it. EasySend uses E2E encryption with AES-256-GCM.

Zero-Knowledge Encryption

An architecture where the service provider has zero knowledge of user data. The encryption keys are held only by the user, never by the server. Even if the server is compromised, user data remains protected.

AES-256-GCM

Advanced Encryption Standard with 256-bit key length in Galois/Counter Mode. A symmetric encryption algorithm used by governments, banks and security applications worldwide. The 256-bit key means there are 2^256 possible keys.

PBKDF2

Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2. A method for deriving a cryptographic key from a human-readable password. It applies a hash function multiple times to make brute-force attacks computationally expensive.

Cloud Storage

Storing files on remote servers accessed via the internet rather than on local hardware. Examples include Google Drive, Dropbox and iCloud. Cloud storage enables file access from any device.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

A standard network protocol for transferring files between a client and server. Created in 1971, FTP lacks encryption by default and has largely been replaced by SFTP and HTTPS-based file sharing for security reasons.

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)

A secure file transfer protocol that provides file access, transfer and management over an encrypted SSH connection. Unlike FTP, all data including credentials is encrypted during transfer.

CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A geographically distributed network of servers that delivers content to users from the nearest location. CDNs reduce latency and improve download speeds. EasySend uses a global CDN for fast downloads.

API (Application Programming Interface)

A set of rules and protocols that allows software applications to communicate with each other. EasySend's REST API lets developers upload and share files programmatically with simple HTTP requests.

REST API

Representational State Transfer API. A web service architecture that uses standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, DELETE) to interact with resources. RESTful APIs are stateless and use URLs to identify resources.

MCP (Model Context Protocol)

An open protocol by Anthropic for connecting AI models to external tools and data sources. MCP enables AI assistants like Claude to directly interact with services like EasySend for file sharing.

Multipart Form Data

An HTTP content type used for uploading files. The request body is split into multiple parts, each containing a form field or file. This is the standard method for browser-based file uploads.

Short URL

A condensed version of a longer URL. Services like EasySend generate short codes (e.g. easysend.co/Ab3Kz) that redirect to the full resource. Short URLs are easier to share via text and messaging.

QR Code

Quick Response code. A two-dimensional barcode that stores data readable by smartphone cameras. EasySend generates QR codes for every share link, allowing recipients to scan and download from their phone.

OAuth

An open standard for access delegation. OAuth allows users to grant third-party applications limited access to their resources without sharing credentials. Many APIs require OAuth, but EasySend's API requires no authentication at all.

Webhook

An HTTP callback that sends real-time data to a specified URL when an event occurs. EasySend uses Stripe webhooks to process payment events like subscription renewals and cancellations.

PWA (Progressive Web App)

A web application that uses modern web capabilities to deliver an app-like experience. PWAs can be installed on home screens, work offline and send push notifications. EasySend is installable as a PWA.

Chunked Upload

A method of uploading large files by splitting them into smaller pieces (chunks). Each chunk is uploaded separately with automatic retry on failure. This makes large uploads resilient to network interruptions.

Rate Limiting

Restricting the number of requests a user or IP address can make within a time window. Rate limiting prevents abuse and ensures fair usage. EasySend limits uploads to 10 per hour per IP.

bcrypt

A password hashing function designed to be computationally expensive, making brute-force attacks impractical. EasySend uses bcrypt for hashing access passwords on bundles.

Web Crypto API

A JavaScript API built into modern browsers that provides cryptographic operations. EasySend uses the Web Crypto API for client-side AES-256-GCM encryption, eliminating the need for external libraries.