what is http 2.0

Introduction

The HTTP protocol is the backbone of communication between the client and the server over the internet.

The earlier version of HTTP, HTTP 1.1, served well for several years, but with the ever-growing internet, it showed its limitations.

HTTP 2.0 is a major update to the HTTP protocol that overcomes the limitations of its predecessor.

In this blog, we will explore what HTTP 2.0 is, its key features, and how it differs from HTTP 1.1.

What is HTTP 2.0?

HTTP 2.0 is a significant update to the HTTP protocol, which is used to transfer data between a web server and a web browser.

The protocol was released in 2015 by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and is designed to overcome the limitations of the earlier version, HTTP 1.1.

The new version of the protocol is faster, more efficient, and more secure, which makes it a great choice for modern web applications.

Key features of HTTP 2.0

There are several key features of HTTP 2.0 that make it a great choice for web developers.

Let’s take a look at some of the most significant features of HTTP 2.0.

1. Multiplexing

One of the significant limitations of HTTP 1.1 was that it could only send one request at a time.

HTTP 2.0 overcomes this limitation by allowing multiple requests to be sent simultaneously over a single connection.

This feature is known as “multiplexing,” and it significantly improves the performance of the protocol.

2. Server push

Server push is another significant feature of HTTP 2.0. With server push, the server can send resources to the client before the client even requests them.

This feature eliminates the need for the client to make multiple requests to the server, which improves the overall performance of the protocol.

3. Binary protocol

HTTP 1.1 used a text-based protocol to transfer data between the client and the server.

In contrast, HTTP 2.0 uses a binary protocol that is more compact and efficient.

The binary protocol reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred between the client and the server, which improves the performance of the protocol.

4. Header compression

Another significant limitation of HTTP 1.1 was that the headers were not compressed, which increased the amount of data that needed to be transferred between the client and the server.

HTTP 2.0 overcomes this limitation by compressing headers, which significantly reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred.

How HTTP 2.0 differs from HTTP 1.1

HTTP 2.0 differs from HTTP 1.1 in several ways.

Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between the two protocols.

1. Binary protocol

One of the most significant differences between HTTP 2.0 and HTTP 1.1 is the use of a binary protocol in the former.

The binary protocol is more compact and efficient than the text-based protocol used in HTTP 1.1.

2. Multiplexing

HTTP 2.0 allows multiple requests to be sent simultaneously over a single connection, while HTTP 1.1 can only send one request at a time.

This feature significantly improves the performance of the protocol.

3. Server push

Server push is a new feature introduced in HTTP 2.0.

With server push, the server can send resources to the client before the client even requests them.

This feature eliminates the need for the client to make multiple requests to the server, which improves the overall performance of the protocol.

4. Header compression

HTTP 2.0 compresses headers, which significantly reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred between the client and the server.