HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The HTTP protocol is used to transfer HTML document over the Internet. HTTP is a very common service on the Internet. Without it, the world wide web would not be possible.

HTTP is based on the TCP/IP protocol. This protocol actually handles all of the low-level networking staff. HTTP is then used as a layer on top of the TCP/IP protocol to handle the way a browser requests and receives HTML pages and other files on the Internet.

Essentially, the HTTP protocol has several elements. The HTTP protocol handles how the browser sends a request for a file to the server. A HTTP request must follow a specific format. Normally, the HTTP request is sent to the server in the form of specific HTTP headers. The server then sends a response. This may be a document, such as the requested text file. Alternatively, the server may send back just a HTTP header. This may be the case if the document could not be found or if the server is too busy.

The HTTP protocol also contains some other cool features. One HTTP feature that is very useful is cookies. These are small files that can be stored on the web browser in order to add state to a web application. Keep in mind that web applications are stateless by default. Another cool HTTP feature is authentication. This allows a webmaster to check the identity of a user by requiring a login name and password. HTTP also supports file upload. While HTTP file upload is not very popular, it can be useful for certain applications, such as a web application that requires people to upload images.