Which network protocol enables the transfer of files between hosts on a network?

The correct answer is FTP, which stands for File Transfer Protocol. This protocol is specifically designed for transferring files between hosts on a network. It allows users to upload and download files from servers, making it a fundamental tool for data sharing in networking environments.

FTP operates over a client-server model, where one machine acts as the server hosting the files and the other acts as the client requesting and transferring these files. It includes features such as authentication, allowing for secure transfers, and supports various data transfer modes, including ASCII and binary, which cater to different file types.

In contrast, the other options listed serve different purposes. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is used for assigning IP addresses to devices on a network. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is primarily used for transmitting web pages and other content over the internet. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is utilized for sending and receiving email messages. These protocols do not facilitate direct file transfers like FTP does, making FTP the appropriate choice for this question.