| RFC 959 Command | Description |
| USER | Used to specify user name. |
| PASS | Used to specify password. |
| PWD | Print working directory. |
| CWD | Change working directory. |
| CDUP | Change to working directory's parent directory. |
| TYPE | Set data type: IMAGE (binary), ASCII, EBCDIC or L (local |
| MODE | Set data-flow type to stream, block or compressed; |
| PASV | Tells server to prepare to receive a data channel in “passive” |
| PORT | Tells server to open (send) a data channel in “active” |
| RETR | Retrieve (read) a file. |
| STOR | Send (write) a file. |
| APPE | Send a file; if it already exists then append it to the extant |
| REST | Fast-forward to specified file position. Must be followed by a |
| RNFR | Rename from: must be followed on the same line by a RNTO |
| RNTO | Rename to: must be preceded on the same line by a RNFR command. |
| STOU | Send (write) a file; change its filename if it already exists. |
| ABOR | Cancel previous command and any resulting activity |
| DELE | Delete file. |
| RMD | Remove directory. |
| MKD | Make directory. |
| LIST | List filenames, with file info. |
| NLST | List filenames only. |
| SYST | Ask server its system type. |
| STAT | List attributes of a specified file or the print status of |
| QUIT | Terminate session. |