Definition

Noun: A standardized system of rules and procedures that enables the transfer of hypertext documents and other data between a client (like a web browser) and a server on the World Wide Web. It is the foundational protocol for data communication on the web.

Usage

HTTP is used as a noun to refer to the specific communication protocol. It is typically written in uppercase and is often seen in website addresses (URLs). * The website's URL begins with http, indicating the standard protocol is used. * Modern browsers often hide the http prefix in the address bar for simplicity. * For secure transactions, https (HTTP Secure) is required instead of standard http.

Examples

• When you type a web address, your browser sends an HTTP request to the server.
• The server responds to the HTTP request by sending the webpage data.
• This page is served over plain http, so the connection is not encrypted.

Advanced Usage

• HTTP methods/verbs: Core to the protocol's function, these are commands that define the desired action for a given resource. Common methods include (retrieve data), (submit data), (update data), and (remove data).
  • Example: A form submission typically uses the HTTP POST method to send data to the server.
• HTTP status codes: Numeric codes returned by a server to indicate the result of a request (e.g., for success, for a missing resource).
  • Example: If you see a 404 error, it is an HTTP status code meaning the page was not found.

Variants and Related Words

• HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure): An extension of HTTP that uses encryption (SSL/TLS) to secure the communication between browser and server.
• HTTP/2, HTTP/3: Updated, more efficient versions of the original HTTP/1.1 protocol.

Synonyms

• Protocol (in the specific context of web communication). Note: "HTTP" is the specific name; "protocol" is the general category.
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (the full, unabbreviated form).

Related Phrases

• HTTP header: A part of the request or response that contains metadata, such as the content type, date, or server information.
  • Example: The Content-Type HTTP header tells the browser if the data is HTML, an image, or another format.
• HTTP cookie: A small piece of data sent from a website and stored on the user's computer by the web browser while the user is browsing.
  • Example: The site uses an HTTP cookie to remember your login session.

Noun

1. a protocol (utilizing TCP) to transfer hypertext requests and information between servers and browsers