HTTP
2 synonyms for HTTP, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The set of rules browsers and servers follow to exchange web pages and other files: the browser sends a request, the server sends back a response along with a status code saying what happened.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
hypertext transfer protocol
web protocol
How to use HTTP
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
HTTP request
HTTP response
HTTP status code
HTTP header
over HTTP
Appears at the start of web addresses as http://, though modern browsers usually hide it. Take "an" before it in speech: "an HTTP request".
Etymology
An initialism of hypertext transfer protocol. It was devised by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN around 1990 alongside HTML and the first web browser.
Full origin of HTTP →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?
They follow the same rules for requests and responses, but HTTPS encrypts the traffic in transit and verifies the site's certificate. With plain HTTP, anyone able to observe the connection can read what is being sent.
What is an HTTP status code?
It is a three-digit number the server sends back to say how the request went. Codes in the 200s mean success, 300s mean the resource has moved, 400s mean a problem with the request such as 404 not found, and 500s mean the server itself failed.
Is HTTP the same as the internet?
No. The internet is the underlying network; HTTP is one protocol running on it, the one used for the web. Email, file transfer and video calls use different protocols over the same network.
