What is FTP? Is it like dropbox?

A frequently-asked question:

Hello, i do not know much about computers.
While looking through my school’s website i noticed that the school has a FTP server that students can log on to?
So 1st ques: In layman’s terms what is FTP

My understanding of it is that it’s something that can allow a user to download a particular file,folder etc from a server.

I have been using dropbox, where they files can sync and if you are on a different computer you can download from the dropbox site.

So what is the difference between the 2 methods?

Is there a way to link FTP to dropbox.
I’m using cyberduck on the mac as an FTP client and i noticed that it says you can connect to a dropbox folder. – However don’t really get how to do it still.
Why would you’d want to do this though? Does that mean that FTP can speed up dropbox syncs/downloads.

Also i noticed that while i am at school (where the host server is located) the upload rate is extremly faster (didn’t check download rate). So does that mean that the closer you get to the FTP server the faster the rate?

FInally my school also gives webspace for free. I was playing around with the FTP provided and was able to make my first html code into a website. I want to know more about html, so if anyone knows any books on the subject it would be much appreciated.
Also if someone can explain what is happening in this process? Is the FTP client just allow for some type of link between the server to the html document to make a website?

Thanks!

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