WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning) is a protocol that allows users to access and work with files stored on remote servers over the internet. Here’s how it is used to access files:
1. First, the client device (such as a computer or mobile device) must support WebDAV. Most modern operating systems and web browsers have built-in support for WebDAV.
1. The user must know the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) where the file is located on the server. This URL must include the WebDAV protocol identifier, such as “http://” or “https://”.
1. The user enters the URL into their WebDAV client software. This could be a directly integrated file manager in the operating system or a web browser extension or independent software like Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat or ownCloud.
1. The WebDAV client software establishes a connection to the server and sends a request for the file. If the user has permission and authentication, the server responds with the requested file.
1. The user can then interact with the file as if it was stored locally on their device. They can open, edit, save, delete, and move the file without needing to download it first. Any changes made to the file are immediately reflected on the server.
1. When the user is done working with the file, they can simply disconnect from the server, and the file is saved back to its original location.
Overall, WebDAV makes it simple to access and work with files stored remotely on servers without the need for complicated setup or downloading files. It is commonly used by businesses, cloud storage providers, and even personal web servers.
