What actually is HTTP?

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. This is a protocol used in networks to transfer data from one computer to another. The Hypertext Transfer Protocol is mainly used on the Internet.

HTTP was invented in 1989 at CERN. The researchers were looking for a way to transfer scientific data over long distances. In this context, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol formed the language with which two computers communicate. This must be uniform so that all computers involved in the transfer can receive and interpret unambiguous commands. When accessing a website, the Internet user’s browser sends a request in HTTP to the responsible server. This is addressed based on the IP address, a code made up of letters and numbers. So that Internet users do not have to remember complex IP addresses, all computers working in the network use the Domain Name System (DNS), which assigns IP addresses to domain names such as www.yourdomain.de.

The units that are transmitted via HTTP are called messages. There are two types of messages: requests and responses. A request is always sent from the client, i.e. the Internet user’s computer, to the server. A response goes the opposite way from the server to the client. When a page is called up, the client’s web browser sends a request to the server and asks it to send back the requested file. The correct server is addressed via the domain name; The sender of the request can be identified via the IP address of the browser. Originally, only files in html format were transmitted. Today, HTTP can also be used to transmit other data.

If you are interested in your own domain, you can find here our offers.