What Is HTTP?
HTTP — the HyperText Transfer Protocol — the foundation of the web, defining how browsers request web pages and how servers respond with them.
How it works
When you visit a website, your browser sends an HTTP request (GET this page) to the server, which returns an HTTP response (the page content plus a status code like 200 OK or 404 Not Found). HTTP is stateless — each request is independent — and runs on port 80. Its secure version, HTTPS, adds TLS encryption.
Why it matters
HTTP is the protocol the web is built on — every page load, API call and web app uses it. Understanding requests, responses, methods (GET/POST) and status codes is fundamental for anyone in IT, and relevant to security (analysing web traffic and attacks). See HTTP vs HTTPS.
Frequently asked questions
What is HTTP?
The HyperText Transfer Protocol — it defines how web browsers request pages and how servers respond, forming the foundation of the World Wide Web.
What port does HTTP use?
Port 80 by default; its encrypted version HTTPS uses port 443.
What does it mean that HTTP is stateless?
Each request is independent — the server doesn't inherently remember previous requests, which is why cookies and sessions were invented to maintain state.
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