Glossary

Quick lookup for any term used elsewhere in the docs. Read Core concepts for the prose explanation.

A¶

Auto-transfer. Automatic fan-out to all enabled destinations when a file arrives through the standard upload paths (camera FTP, Desktop, mobile, browser, guest, HTTP).

B¶

Browser. The page in ZenTransfer where every photo arriving at your account is visible. You cull, rate, edit metadata, and manually transfer picks here. See Browser.

C¶

Credential. Username, password, or key used to authenticate. ZenTransfer issues upload-only credentials for ingest; you provide destination credentials when configuring outbound destinations.

D¶

Destination. Configured endpoint that receives files. Examples: an outbound FTP server, a Google Drive folder, an S3 bucket, an email recipient, a gallery, a webhook, a Zapier zap.

Download mode. Desktop app mode that pulls incoming files from your account into a local folder. See Desktop app.

E¶

Edge node. Regional ZenTransfer FTP ingress node nearest the photographer. Default DNS resolves to the closest healthy node; regional hostnames lock onto a specific region. See Edge nodes.

EXIF. Camera metadata embedded in image files: make, model, ISO, shutter speed, GPS, etc.

F¶

Fan-out. Parallel delivery of one file to multiple destinations. The core relay model.

FTP / FTPS / SFTP. Upload protocols. See FTP protocols.

G¶

Gallery. Permanent, curated collection of files. Galleries can have public share links sent to clients. See Galleries.

Guest upload. Time-limited tokenized URL that allows third parties to upload to your account without a ZenTransfer login. See Guest uploads.

I¶

Ingest. How files enter ZenTransfer. See Ingest methods for the full list.

IPTC. International Press Telecommunications Council metadata standard. Caption, byline, copyright, credit, keywords, location.

M¶

Manual transfer. Selective delivery of chosen items to chosen destinations from the Browser's Transfer panel. Contrast with auto-transfer.

Metadata template. Preset set of IPTC/EXIF values applied to outgoing files before delivery. See Metadata templates.

P¶

Passive mode (PASV). FTP mode where the client initiates both control and data connections. Works through NAT and firewalls; required by most modern setups.

Pick / reject. Culling flag in the Browser and gallery editor. Accepted vs rejected frame.

R¶

Realtime / live indicator. The ZenTransfer logo doubles as a connection indicator. Colour means connected and new files arrive instantly. Greyscale means disconnected.

Relay. The ZenTransfer model: one upload, parallel delivery to every enabled destination.

Rename template. Filename pattern applied during processing, using variables like date, EXIF, and counters. See Rename templates.

Rendition. Derived image size used for previews and display: thumbnail, preview, and high-resolution display. The original file is delivered to destinations and downloaded by clients.

S¶

Share. Public link to a gallery, with optional view and download permissions and optional expiry. See Galleries.

SmartScreen. Windows feature that may block the Desktop app on first install. Bypass per the blog instructions.

T¶

Transfer event. Billable unit. One successful delivery of one file to one destination. Sending one file to three enabled destinations = three transfer events.

U¶

Upload mode. Desktop app mode that pushes files from your computer into ZenTransfer.

Upload-only credential. FTP credential that can write to the upload endpoint but cannot read or list. ZenTransfer's primary ingest credential type — limits damage if intercepted.

W¶

Webhook. HTTP endpoint you control that ZenTransfer calls when files arrive. See API and webhooks.

Z¶

Zapier. No-code automation platform integrated with ZenTransfer. Triggers Zaps when files arrive.

ZenTransfer.io. The cloud platform — relay, processing, destinations, dashboard.

ZenTransfer Desktop. Free macOS / Windows companion app. Upload mode and Download mode.

ZenTransfer mobile apps. iOS and Android apps for upload from photo library and dashboard control.