Site building · Website glossary

HTTP

Quick answer · What is HTTP?

Hypertext Transfer Protocol defines how clients and servers exchange web requests and responses.

IN PRACTICE

HTTP: an example

A browser requests a page and the server replies with a status, headers, and response content.

KEEP IN MIND

HTTP describes the exchange; HTTPS adds TLS protection to that transport.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of HTTP?

A browser requests a page and the server replies with a status, headers, and response content.

How does HTTPS add protection to HTTP?

HTTP describes the exchange; HTTPS adds TLS protection to that transport.

Which concepts should I read alongside HTTP?

HTTPS: HTTP communicated over an encrypted TLS connection that protects transport between participating endpoints.
Web server: Software that receives web requests and sends responses, or the computer running that software.