What technology allows files to be sent and received over the internet?

Networking protocols are essential for enabling the transfer of files over the internet. These protocols establish the rules and standards for communication between devices, ensuring that data packets are transmitted and received correctly. Examples include the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP), which work together to provide reliable communication over the network.

When files are sent over the internet, they are broken down into smaller packets, which are then transmitted through various routes and reassembled at the destination. Networking protocols govern how these packets are formatted, addressed, transmitted, routed, and received, thus facilitating the entire process of file transfer.

In contrast, the other options, while related to data transmission and internet use, do not directly enable file transfer. Cloud computing involves using remote servers to store and manage data, but it relies on networking protocols to send or receive files. File compression reduces the size of a file for efficient storage or transfer, but it does not itself facilitate the transfer process. Data encryption secures files during transmission, but it requires existing protocols to define how the encrypted data is transmitted.