downloading

download
downloading

   <jargon> To transfer data from one computer to another.
   Downloading usually refers to transfer from a larger "host"
   system (especially a {server} or {mainframe}) to a smaller
   "client" system, especially a {microcomputer} or specialised
   peripheral, and "{upload}" usually means from small to large.

   Others hold that, technically, download means "receive" and
   upload means "send", irrespective of the size of the systems
   involved.

   Note that in communications between ground and space,
   space-to-earth transmission is always "down" and the reverse
   "up", regardless of size.  So far the in-space machines have
   invariably been smaller; thus the upload/download distinction
   has been reversed from its usual sense.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (2003-11-04)