What is HTTP? How the Web Actually Works
The web's delivery service: requests, responses, methods, status codes — and why HTTPS matters.
SwiftDev
Web Design & Development
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is how a browser (client) asks a server for something and gets a response back. Type a URL: the browser sends a GET request; the server replies with an HTML page and a 200 OK status. Click, like, or submit a form — those actions fire more requests. This cycle runs millions of times per second across the internet.
Request → Response flow
Request / response cycle
- Request line: method + URL + HTTP version (e.g., GET /home HTTP/1.1).
- Headers: metadata (cookies, content type, caching hints).
- Body: optional data (e.g., JSON in a POST).
- Response: status code + headers + body (HTML, JSON, images).
URL anatomy
URL anatomy
https is the scheme; the lock icon comes from TLS encryption. Host identifies the server, optional port (80/443), path targets a resource, query adds filters, and the fragment navigates within the page.
Common methods
- GET: Fetch a resource (no body).
- POST: Create or submit data (has body).
- PUT: Replace a resource entirely.
- PATCH: Update part of a resource.
- DELETE: Remove a resource.
- HEAD: Like GET, but headers only.
- OPTIONS: Ask which methods/features are allowed.
Status codes
- 200: OK
- 201: Created
- 301: Moved Permanently
- 304: Not Modified (cache hit)
- 400: Bad Request
- 401: Unauthorized
- 403: Forbidden
- 404: Not Found
- 500: Server Error
Why HTTPS?
HTTPS = HTTP over TLS. It encrypts requests and responses so attackers can't read or alter them. It also authenticates the server (via certificates) and enables HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 features like multiplexing.
- HTTP/1.1: One request per connection
- HTTP/2: Multiplexed streams
- HTTP/3: Over QUIC/UDP
Built on solid foundations
Every Swift Dev site is fast, secure, and built right.
HTTPS, HTTP/2, optimized assets, and clean code — it's how we build every site from day one.
Get a Free Quote