Glossary · Hosting and delivery
HTTP
The request-and-response protocol browsers, servers, and many APIs use to exchange web resources and actions.
Definition
HTTP defines how a client requests a resource or action and how a server responds. Responses include status codes such as 200 for success, 301 for a permanent redirect, 404 for not found, and 500-class codes for server failures. HTTPS is HTTP protected in transit with TLS.
Why it matters
Status codes, methods, headers, caching, and redirects affect visitors, integrations, and search systems.
Common misunderstanding
A page that visually displays an error can still return a 200 status, confusing crawlers and monitoring; the protocol response matters.
Related terms
Related system family: Hosting & Release
Sources
- HTTP (opens in a new tab) · MDN Web Docs
- How the web works (opens in a new tab) · MDN Web Docs
Last reviewed July 16, 2026