Editing Download (section)

==Definition==
[[File:Upstream-downstream.svg|thumb|Download data is sent [[downstream (networking)|downstream]] to an end-user, [[upstream (networking)|upstream]] from the provider. ISP = internet service provider.]]

Downloading generally transfers entire files for local storage and later use, as contrasted with [[streaming media|streaming]], where the data is used nearly immediately while the transmission is still in progress and may not be stored long-term. Websites that offer streaming media or media displayed in-browser, such as [[YouTube]], increasingly place restrictions on the ability of users to save these materials to their computers after they have been received.

Downloading on computer networks involves retrieving data from a remote system, like a web server, FTP server, or email server, unlike uploading, where data is sent to a remote server. A download can refer to a file made available for retrieval or one that has been received, encompassing the entire process of obtaining such a file.

Downloading is not the same as [[data transfer]]; moving or copying data between two storage devices would be [[data transfer]], but ''receiving'' data from the ''[[Internet]]'' or BBS is ''downloading''.