Welcome to our comprehensive HTTP Reference Guide! This guide provides an in-depth look at the HTTP protocol, including its history, specifications, and common usage scenarios.

Overview

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication on the web. It defines how clients (such as web browsers) and servers communicate with each other. This guide covers the basics of HTTP, including:

  • HTTP Methods: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and more
  • HTTP Status Codes: 200 OK, 404 Not Found, 500 Internal Server Error, and more
  • Headers: Content-Type, Accept, Authorization, and more
  • Cookies: How they work and their role in web applications

HTTP Methods

HTTP methods define the actions that can be performed on a resource. The most common methods are:

  • GET: Retrieve data from a server
  • POST: Send data to a server to create or update a resource
  • PUT: Update a resource on a server
  • DELETE: Remove a resource from a server

GET Method

The GET method is used to retrieve data from a server. It is the most commonly used HTTP method.

  • Example: GET /api/users

POST Method

The POST method is used to send data to a server to create or update a resource.

  • Example: POST /api/users

HTTP Status Codes

HTTP status codes indicate the result of an HTTP request. The most common status codes are:

  • 200 OK: The request was successful
  • 404 Not Found: The requested resource was not found
  • 500 Internal Server Error: An unexpected condition was encountered

Headers

HTTP headers provide additional information about the request or response. Some common headers include:

  • Content-Type: Specifies the media type of the response body
  • Accept: Specifies the media types that the client is willing to accept
  • Authorization: Provides authentication credentials

Cookies

Cookies are small pieces of data stored on the client's computer. They are used to store information about the user's session, preferences, and more.

  • Example: Set-Cookie: session_token=abc123

Learn More

For more information about HTTP, we recommend checking out our HTTP Basics guide.

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