HTTP in Detail, HyperText Transfer Protocol

Lists of Protocols

Created: 2022-04-17
Tags: #literature


How communication happens between webserver and client-user
Usually only clients make HTTP requests, and only to servers. Servers respond to a client's HTTP request. A server can also populate data into a client cache, in advance of it being requested, through a mechanism called a server push.
When requesting a file via HTTP, clients must provide the file's URL.
The web server must answer every HTTP request, at least with an error message.


HTTP specifies how to transfer hypertext (linked web documents) between two computers.

What is an HTTP

Features of HTTP

  • stateless (doesn't keep track of previous requests)
    therefore can't remember who you are
    thus cookies are used to remember you .
    Neither the server nor the client remember previous communications. For example, relying on HTTP alone, a server can't remember a password you typed or remember your progress on an incomplete transaction. You need an application server for tasks like that.

Two commands supported by HTTP include GET and POST.
Both of these are requests we can make to a server,
Ways we(client) can send request to webserver - Get-Post-Put-Delete
example of RESPONSE from WEBSERVER

How communication happens between webserver and client-user

To access a website,
You send a request to the webserver.
Webserver will give a response to you
If webserver's response OK,
-> files required to display website will be sent to your computer.