What are the advantages and disadvantages of using FTP functions in PHP for file manipulation compared to other methods?

When working with file manipulation in PHP, using FTP functions can be advantageous as it allows for easy transfer of files between servers. However, FTP functions may not be as secure as other methods such as SFTP or SCP. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of using FTP functions based on the specific requirements of the project.

// Example of using FTP functions in PHP for file manipulation
$ftp_server = "ftp.example.com";
$ftp_user = "username";
$ftp_pass = "password";

// Connect to FTP server
$conn_id = ftp_connect($ftp_server);
$login_result = ftp_login($conn_id, $ftp_user, $ftp_pass);

// Upload a file to the FTP server
$local_file = "local_file.txt";
$remote_file = "remote_file.txt";
if (ftp_put($conn_id, $remote_file, $local_file, FTP_ASCII)) {
    echo "File uploaded successfully";
} else {
    echo "Failed to upload file";
}

// Close FTP connection
ftp_close($conn_id);