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HTTP

HTTP is the protocol browsers and servers use to exchange web data.

What Is HTTP

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. A client sends a request, and a server returns a response.

It is the foundation for loading pages, calling APIs, downloading assets, and submitting forms.

How To Use HTTP

Use HTTP through browsers, API clients, backend frameworks, or command-line tools such as curl.

Basic Example

GET /api/users HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Accept: application/json

Common Concepts

  • Methods such as GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE describe intent.
  • Status codes such as 200, 404, and 500 describe response outcomes.
  • Headers pass metadata.
  • Bodies carry request or response content.

What To Learn Next

Learn caching, cookies, CORS, HTTPS, redirects, content negotiation, and API authentication.