WebDAV stands for “Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning” and it is an extension of HTTP that lets you move files to and from web servers. WebDAV is defined by the IETF in RTF 4918, which states:
“[WebDAV is] an extension to the HTTP/1.1 protocol that allows clients to perform remote Web content authoring operations.”
The purpose of WebDAV is to make a web server more easily readable and writable. Anyone who has the password can create, change, and move documents on the server. What makes it useful is that it turns web file transfer into something very similar to file management on your local computer. You can see this in the image above—it is a screen shot of a WebDAV connection that looks like a simplified Macintosh Finder window. Transferring files to and from the server is just a matter of dragging files to and from that window.
Not all web hosting providers offer WebDAV connectivity, contact support for your provider to find out if they can turn it on for you.
How to Connect to WebDAV Servers
Windows
- Right click on “My Computer”
- Select “Map Network Drive” (this is also a button at the top of the “My Computer” window)
- Enter the URL to the WebDAV server and click Finish
- Enter the username and password for the server and connect to the server
Macintosh
- In the Finder “Go” menu, choose “Connect to Server”
- Enter the URL to the WebDAV server and click “Connect”
- Enter the username and password for the server and connect to the server
You can also use web editors that have WebDAV connectivity to connect to the WebDAV server. Some editors that support WebDAV include:
- Amaya Windows, Macintosh, Linux
- Bluefish Linux
- Dreamweaver Windows, Macintosh
- Expression Web Windows
- Nvu Windows, Macintosh, Linux (note that KompoZer does not)
- SeaMonkey Windows, Macintosh, Linux
