HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
Short for HyperText Transfer Protocol, HTTP is the underlying protocol used by the World Wide Web. HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions Web servers and browsers should take in response to various commands. For example, when you enter a URL in your browser, this actually sends an HTTP command to the Web server directing it to fetch and transmit the requested Web page.
The other main standard that controls how the World Wide Web works is HTML, which covers how Web pages are formatted and displayed.
HTTP: A Stateless Protocol
HTTP is called a stateless protocol because each command is executed independently, without any knowledge of the commands that came before it. This is the main reason that it is difficult to implement Web sites that react intelligently to user input. This shortcoming of HTTP is being addressed in a number of new technologies, including ActiveX, Java, JavaScript and cookies.
HTTP Status Codes
Errors on the Internet can be quite frustrating — especially if you do not know the difference between a 404 error and a 502 error. These error messages, also called HTTP status codes are response codes given by Web servers and help identify the cause of the problem.
For example, “404 File Not Found” is a common HTTP status code. It means the Web server cannot find the file you requested. The file — the webpage or other document you try to load in your Web browser — has either been moved or deleted, or you entered the wrong URL or document name.
Knowing the meaning of the HTTP status code can help you figure out what went wrong. On a 404 error, for example, you could look at the URL to see if a word looks misspelled, then correct it and try it again. If that doesn’t work backtrack by deleting information between each backslash, until you come to a page on that site that isn’t a 404. From there you may be able to find the page you’re looking for.
Read Also:
- HTTPD
(pronounced as separate letters) Short for HTTP daemon, a software program that runs in the background of a Web server and waits for incoming server requests. The daemon answers the requests automatically and serves the hypertext and multimedia documents over the Internet using HTTP.
- HTTP request header
The information, in the form of a text record, that a user��s browser sends to a Web server containing the details of what the browser wants and will accept back from the server. The request header also contains the type, version and capabilities of the browser that is making the request so that server returns […]
- HTTP response header
The information, in the form of a text record, that a Web server sends back to a client��s browser in response to receiving an HTTP request. The response header contains the date, size and type of file that the server is sending back to the client and also data about the server itself. The header […]
- HUD
Short for Heads Up Display in video and computer games HUD is the display area where gamers can see their character’s vital statistics such as current health, bonus attributes, armor level, ammunition count, and more. What attributes are shown in the HUD differs depending on the type of game played and the game itself.
- HUSPA
Short for High Speed Uplink Packet Access, HUSPA is a method of sending data through UMTS devices. It enables high-speed symmetrical data communications such as VoIP and interactive multimedia by better data rates and shorter delay. The procedure for the receiving is called HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access).