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HTTP
HyperText Transfer Protocol; a
method of defining how messages are formatted, sent, and received
over the world wide web.
More Detailed Definition:
Short for HyperText Transfer
Protocol, the underlying protocol used by the World Wide Web. HTTP
defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what
actions Web servers and browsers should take in response to
various commands. For example, when you enter a URL in your
browser, this actually sends an HTTP command to the Web server
directing it to fetch and transmit the requested Web page.
The other main standard that controls how the World Wide Web works
is HTML, which covers how Web pages are formatted and displayed.
HTTP is called a stateless protocol because each command is
executed independently, without any knowledge of the commands that
came before it. This is the main reason that it is difficult to
implement Web sites that react intelligently to user input. This
shortcoming of HTTP is being addressed in a number of new
technologies, including ActiveX, Java, JavaScript and cookies.
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