DEV Community

Cover image for Introduction to HTTP
Favour_Yusuf
Favour_Yusuf

Posted on

Introduction to HTTP

What is HTTP?

The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the foundation of the World Wide Web, and is used to load web pages using hypertext links. HTTP is an application layer protocol designed to transfer information between networked devices and runs on top of other layers of the network protocol stack.Users can exchange data on the World Wide Web using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, an application protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems.

What is the purpose of HTTP?

The first text-based, interactive web browser, the original World Wide Web which is known as HTTP, was developed alongside HTML. The protocol is still one of the main ways to access the Internet today.Creating a connection with the server and returning HTML pages to the user’s browser is the main purpose of HTTP. Additionally, it is used to download data from the server to any HTTP-capable requesting application, including browsers.

How does HTTP work?

By sending hypertext messages between clients and servers, HTTP serves as a request-response protocol that enables users to interact with web resources like HTML files. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections are typically used by HTTP clients to connect to servers.

By sending hypertext messages between clients and servers, HTTP serves as a request-response protocol that enables users to interact with web resources like HTML files. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections are typically used by HTTP clients to connect to servers.

Specific request techniques are used by HTTP to carry out various functions. The GET and HEAD methods are supported by all HTTP servers, however not all of them do.

GET : requests the whole specified resource.
Using HEAD: a specific resource is requested without the body content.
POST: creates a new page under an existing online resource and adds text, messages, or data to it.
PUT: directly alters an existing web resource or, if necessary, generates a new URI.
DELETE : deletes a certain resource.
TRACE :Users can view any updates or additions to a web resource.
OPTIONS :Users can view the available HTTP methods for a given URL.
CONNECT :The request connection is changed to a transparent TCP/IP tunnel.
PATCH: alters a web resource just partially.

Top comments (0)