Welcome to the HTTP Basics Guide! This page provides an overview of the fundamental concepts of HTTP, the protocol that powers the web.

What is HTTP?

HTTP, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is an application protocol for distributed, collaborative, and hypermedia information systems. It's the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web.

Key Concepts

  • Client-Server Architecture: HTTP operates on a client-server model, where the client (like a web browser) sends requests to a server, and the server responds with the requested data.
  • Requests and Responses: HTTP uses requests and responses to communicate. A request contains information about what the client wants to do, and a response contains the server's response to that request.
  • HTTP Methods: Common HTTP methods include GET (to retrieve data), POST (to submit data), PUT (to update data), DELETE (to delete data), and more.

GET Request Example

Here's an example of a GET request:

GET /en/docs/guides/http_basics HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com

In this request, the client is asking the server to retrieve the page at the path /en/docs/guides/http_basics.

Common HTTP Status Codes

HTTP status codes provide information about the success or failure of a request. Here are some common status codes:

  • 200 OK: The request was successful.
  • 404 Not Found: The requested resource could not be found on the server.
  • 500 Internal Server Error: There was an error on the server while handling the request.

Further Reading

For more in-depth information about HTTP, we recommend checking out our comprehensive guide on HTTP Protocol.

HTTP Protocol Diagram