It is generally more recommendable to zip your site files and then upload them to the server, rather than uploading individual files directly. Here are some key reasons why:
Advantages of Zipping and Uploading:
-
Faster Upload:
- Uploading a single zipped file is often faster than uploading thousands of individual files. This is because fewer connections need to be made between your computer and the server.
-
Fewer Errors:
- Uploading files one by one can result in errors or missed files due to interruptions. Zipping files ensures that all files are transferred at once, reducing the chance of file corruption or incomplete transfers.
-
Easier File Management:
- It's easier to handle and organize a single compressed file than managing multiple individual files during upload.
-
Better Compression:
- The zip file format compresses your files, reducing their total size, which leads to faster uploads and consumes less bandwidth.
-
Preserve Directory Structure:
- Zipping maintains the integrity of your directory structure. When you unzip the file on the server, the files and folders will be in the exact same structure as they were on your local system.
How to Do It:
-
Zip Your Files Locally:
- On your local machine, compress your site files into a
.zip file.
-
Upload the Zipped File to the Server:
- Use an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) or your hosting provider's file manager to upload the zipped file.
-
Unzip the File on the Server:
- Once the upload is complete, you can use the hosting control panel’s file manager or an SSH command (if you have shell access) to unzip the file. For example, in SSH: unzip filename.zip
