HTTP/1.1

HTTP/1.1 is a version of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the foundational application-layer protocol for data communication on the World Wide Web. It defines the structure of requests and responses between clients (like web browsers) and servers, enabling the transfer of web pages, images, and other resources. Introduced in 1997 as an update to HTTP/1.0, it includes improvements such as persistent connections, chunked transfer encoding, and better caching mechanisms.

Also known as: HTTP 1.1, HTTP1.1, HTTP/1.1 protocol, Hypertext Transfer Protocol 1.1, HTTP 1.1 standard

Why learn HTTP/1.1?

Developers should learn HTTP/1.1 because it underpins most web interactions and is essential for understanding how the web works, even with newer versions like HTTP/2 and HTTP/3. It is used in scenarios where legacy systems or simple applications require basic, reliable communication, such as in RESTful APIs, static website serving, or when debugging network issues. Knowledge of HTTP/1.1 helps in optimizing performance, implementing security, and ensuring compatibility across diverse web environments.

Learning Resources

• docs: RFC 2616: HTTP/1.1 Specification
• docs: MDN Web Docs: HTTP/1.1
• tutorial: HTTP/1.1 vs HTTP/2 - Tutorial
• course: HTTP Fundamentals on Pluralsight