What is Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)?
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the protocol used to communicate between client (web browser) and server (website host). It is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions web servers and browsers should take in response to various commands.
How Does HTTP Work?
HTTP is a request-response protocol. A client (web browser) sends a request to the server (web host) in the form of a request message which includes the following:
- Request line (for example, GET /index.html HTTP/1.1)
- Headers (for example, Accept-Language: en)
- Entity body (for example, a form submission)
The server then sends a response message, which contains:
- Status line (for example, HTTP/1.1 200 OK)
- Headers (for example, Content-Type:text/html)
- Entity body (for example, a web page)
Examples of HTTP Requests
HTTP requests can be made to any web server to retrieve or send data. Here are some examples of types of HTTP requests:
- GET: Retrieve data from the server (for example, when a web page is requested)
- POST: Submit data to the server (for example, when a form is submitted)
- PUT: Update data on the server
- DELETE: Delete data from the server
Conclusion
HTTP is the protocol used to communicate between clients and servers on the web. It defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions web servers and browsers should take in response to various commands. Examples of HTTP requests include GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. For more information about HTTP, please see the following links: