Understanding HTTP: The Backbone of Web Communication

The internet is built on countless interactions between web browsers and servers, and at the heart of these interactions lies the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Recently, I completed a module diving deep into how HTTP works, and it gave me a strong foundational understanding of web communication.

Breaking Down a URL

One of the first things I learned was the structure of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A URL isn't just a web address—it consists of several components, including:

• Scheme (e.g., http:// or https://)
• User credentials (optional)
• Host/Domain (e.g., example.com)
• Port (e.g., :80 for HTTP or :443 for HTTPS)
• Path (the specific location of a resource, like /about)
• Query string (e.g., ?id=123, often used for passing parameters)
• Fragment (e.g., #section1, pointing to a specific part of a page)

HTTP Methods and Status Codes

I also explored HTTP methods, which define what action a request is performing. The most common ones include:

• GET – Retrieve data
• POST – Submit new data
• PUT – Update existing data
• DELETE – Remove data

Each request results in an HTTP status code, indicating the response from the server. Some key status codes I learned include:

• 200 OK – Request was successful
• 403 Forbidden – Access is denied
• 404 Not Found – The requested resource doesn’t exist

Understanding Headers and Cookies

Beyond methods and status codes, I explored request and response headers—additional bits of information sent with requests, like specifying content types or authentication details. I also learned about cookies, which are small pieces of data stored on a user’s device to maintain session information or preferences.

Hands-On Practice

To wrap up the module, I got hands-on experience using an HTTP request emulator. I tested out different methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, experimented with parameters, and gained confidence in how web servers handle requests.

Moving Forward

Completing this module earned me the Webbed badge. Next up: How Websites Work