What is the HTTP in the Computer Network?

HTTP in the Computer Network (Full Explanation)

HTTP stands for "Hypertext Transfer Protocol." It is the protocol responsible for transferring information across the network. As part of the Internet protocol suite, it outlines the commands and functions necessary for sharing web page data.

HTTP operates on a server-client model. A client could be a laptop or a mobile device, for instance. The HTTP server is typically a web host that runs web server software like Apache or IIS.

HTTP includes commands such as GET and POST, which facilitate submissions on websites. The CONNECT command serves as a quick connection that is secured using a secure socket layer (SSL).

HTTP is comparable to SMTP in that data is exchanged between the client and server. However, HTTP differs from SMTP in the manner in which messages are transmitted from the client to the server and vice versa. SMTP messages are stored and forwarded, while HTTP messages are sent directly.

Features

The features of HTTP include:

Connectionless protocol

HTTP is a connectionless protocol. The HTTP user initiates a request and awaits a response from the server. Once the server receives the request, it processes it and sends back a response to the HTTP user, after which the client disconnects.

Media independent

The HTTP protocol is media independent, allowing data to be transmitted as long as both the user and server understand how to handle the data content. It is essential for both parties to specify the content type in the MIME-type header.

Stateless

HTTP is a stateless protocol, meaning that the client and server only recognize each other during the current request. Each client connection opens a new session that sends its request. This stateless nature keeps the protocol simple and efficient, consuming minimal resources on the server and enabling support for more simultaneous users, as there is no need to maintain client information throughout the sessions.