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Apple Filing Protocol
AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) is Apple's proprietary file services protocol primarily used on macOS systems. Operating over TCP port 548, it facilitates secure and efficient sharing, browsing, and file management within a Macintosh network environment. AFP supports advanced features like Unicode filenames, fine-grained access control, extended file attributes, and file locking, ensuring compatibility and user collaboration within Apple-based networks..
Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) is a proprietary network protocol designed by Apple Inc. to enable file sharing and networked storage primarily within Macintosh environments. It historically served as the default file services protocol in macOS, seamlessly integrating with the Finder, offering capabilities such as file browsing, manipulation, and remote mounting of volumes. Operating atop TCP port 548, AFP originally functioned over AppleTalk, with later iterations moving to TCP/IP for improved interoperability and scalability.
AFP supports Unicode file names, which facilitates internationalization and compatibility across different locales. Additionally, it incorporates Access Control Lists (ACLs), allowing detailed permission management at the user and group level. Support for extended file attributes enables rich metadata storage, enhancing user experience and application interoperability. The file locking mechanism ensures consistency by preventing concurrent conflicting edits on shared files.
While AFP was once the primary file-sharing protocol in Apple environments, recent advancements in SMB (Server Message Block) have led Apple to shift towards supporting SMB as the default due to its cross-platform compatibility. Nonetheless, AFP remains critical for legacy system support and specialized Apple workflows requiring its unique functionalities.