What does "HTTP" mean in programming?

HTTP is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

HyperText Transfer Protocol. The foundation of data communication on the web. HTTP defines how clients request resources and how servers respond. Each HTTP message has a method (GET, POST, etc.), a URL, headers, and optionally a body.

Example

"The API returns an HTTP 404 status code when the resource is not found."

Related terms

HTTPS
REST
API
protocol
CORS

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