HTTP Request

An HTTP request is a message sent from a client to a server to fetch data or perform an action. It includes a method (e.g., GET, POST), URL, headers, and optionally a body.

Also known as : Client request.

Comparisons

• GET vs. POST : GET retrieves data, while POST sends data to modify server-side content.

• Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Requests : Synchronous waits for a response before continuing, while asynchronous allows multitasking.

Pros

• Versatile : Supports various methods for different actions.

• Standardized : Compatible with all web technologies.

Cons

• Vulnerability : Can be intercepted if not encrypted.

• Limited payload for some methods : GET requests have size limitations.

Example

POST /submit-form HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
Content-Length: 27

name=John&email=john@example.com

This HTTP request uses the POST method to send form data (name and email) to the server at /submit-form. It includes headers like Content-Type to specify the type of data and Content-Length to indicate the size of the body. The body carries the form data to be processed by the server.