Definition: download

To transmit a file over a network. In a communications session, "download" and "upload" imply a remote/local scenario, in which data are being downloaded from the "remote" server into the user's "local" computer. Uploading is the reverse.

The time it takes to download depends on file size and network speed. Via early analog dial-up modems, Web pages took several seconds to download, and a 10MB file could take an hour. Today's DSL, cable, FiOS and Wi-Fi are dramatically faster. See Internet speed.

From the Internet
Downloading images, articles and applications from the Internet is no more than "Click Here" on a Web page. The only thing users must know is what to do with the downloaded file. If the download is an app, it must be installed, which can happen automatically or require the user to take one more step. See download vs. upload, download protocol and client download.

From the Local Network (LAN)
In a server in a private network, files are placed in sharable folders that can be downloaded to users' computers. Using a file manager, such as Explorer in Windows or Finder in Mac, users locate the files in their default Downloads folder. See file manager.

From Computer to Mobile Devices
Transferring files to a smartphone or tablet plugged into the USB port of a computer is more a copy function than a download. The mobile device appears as a storage drive to the computer.