HTTP Interview Questions

What is HTTP?

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, which is the foundation of data communication on the internet. It is a protocol used for transferring data between a web server and a web browser. HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and how web servers and browsers should respond to various commands.

What are the basic methods in HTTP?

The basic methods in HTTP are: 1. GET - retrieves data from a server 2. POST - sends data to a server to create/update a resource 3. PUT - sends data to a server to replace/update a resource 4. DELETE - deletes a specified resource 5. PATCH - updates a resource with partial data

Explain the difference between GET and POST methods in HTTP.

The main difference between GET and POST methods in HTTP is how data is sent. GET sends data in the URL, visible to users and limited in length, typically used for retrieving data. POST sends data in the request body, hidden from users and not limited in length, typically used for submitting data.

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What is an HTTP header?

An HTTP header is a component of the HTTP protocol that contains metadata about the request or response being transmitted between a client and server. It provides important information such as content type, caching instructions, cookies, authentication details, and more. Headers are crucial for the communication and interpretation of HTTP messages.

What status code is returned for a successful HTTP request?

The status code returned for a successful HTTP request is 200. This code indicates that the request has been successfully processed and the server has fulfilled the client's request. It is usually accompanied by a response message explaining the outcome of the request.

How does HTTP work?

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) works by establishing a connection between a client (such as a web browser) and a server. The client sends a request to the server for a specific resource (e.g., a web page) using a URL. The server then responds with the requested resource, which the client can then display.

What is a RESTful API?

A RESTful API (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. It uses standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE to perform CRUD operations on resources. It emphasizes stateless communication, uniform resource identifiers (URIs), and data representation in a simple and consistent manner.

Explain the purpose of the 'Cache-Control' header in HTTP.

The 'Cache-Control' header in HTTP is used to specify directives to caching mechanisms in order to control how a response should be cached. This header can control aspects like whether a response can be cached, how it can be stored, and for how long it can be considered fresh.

What is the role of the 'User-Agent' header in HTTP requests?

The 'User-Agent' header in HTTP requests identifies the software or device initiating the request. It provides information such as the application type, operating system, software vendor, and version number. This information helps servers deliver content tailored to the requesting client.

What is the purpose of the 'Content-Type' header in HTTP?

The 'Content-Type' header in HTTP specifies the media type of the resource being sent or received in an HTTP message. It informs the receiving end how to interpret the content of the message, such as whether it is plain text, HTML, JSON, or other data formats.

Explain the role of cookies in HTTP.

Cookies are small pieces of data stored by a website on a user's browser. In HTTP, cookies are used for tracking user sessions, personalizing website content, and storing user preferences. They allow websites to remember user information and provide a more customized browsing experience.

What is the 'Host' header in HTTP used for?

The 'Host' header in HTTP is used to specify the domain name of the server handling the HTTP request. This allows the server to determine which website or application to route the request to when multiple websites are hosted on the same server.

Explain the concept of HTTP pipelining.

HTTP pipelining is a technique in which multiple HTTP requests are sent over a single TCP connection without waiting for each response. This allows for more efficient utilization of the connection and can lead to reduced latency and improved performance for web applications.

What is the purpose of the 'ETag' header in HTTP?

The 'ETag' header in HTTP is used for web cache validation. It is a unique identifier assigned by the server to a specific version of a resource. When a client requests the resource again, it can include the ETag value to check if the resource has been modified since the last request.

How does HTTP/2 differ from HTTP/1.1?

HTTP/2 differs from HTTP/1.1 in several ways. Some key differences include: 1. HTTP/2 is binary framed, whereas HTTP/1.1 is textual. 2. HTTP/2 allows multiplexing of multiple requests and responses over a single connection. 3. HTTP/2 implements header compression to reduce overhead. 4. HTTP/2 supports server push, allowing servers to send responses proactively.

Explain the concept of HTTP long-polling.

HTTP long-polling is a technique used to simulate real-time capabilities in web applications. It involves the client making a request to the server that remains open until new information is available. Once new data is ready, the server responds, and the connection is closed, triggering another request.

What are the advantages of using HTTPS over HTTP?

HTTPS provides advantages over HTTP as it encrypts data exchanged between the user's browser and the website, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. This encryption helps to protect sensitive information such as login credentials, personal details, and payment information from being intercepted or tampered with by malicious third parties.

Explain the role of the 'Accept-Encoding' header in HTTP requests.

The 'Accept-Encoding' header in HTTP requests specifies which content encoding schemes the client is willing to accept. This allows the server to compress or encode the response using a compatible scheme before sending it back to the client, optimizing data transfer and improving performance.

What is Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) in HTTP?

Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) is a security feature implemented in web browsers that allows servers to specify which origins are permitted to access their resources. This prevents malicious websites from making unauthorized cross-origin requests, enhancing the security of web applications.

How does HTTP authentication work?

HTTP authentication works by adding an extra layer of security to websites or applications. When a user tries to access a restricted resource, the server prompts them to provide a username and password. The user's credentials are then verified by the server before allowing access to the protected content.

What is HTTP?

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, which is the foundation of data communication on the internet. It is a protocol used for transferring data between a web server and a web browser. HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and how web servers and browsers should respond to various commands.

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is an application layer protocol used for transmitting hypermedia documents, such as HTML files, on the World Wide Web. HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted between web servers and clients, enabling the communication and exchange of information over the internet.

HTTP operates as a request-response protocol, where a client (such as a web browser) sends a request to a server to retrieve a resource, and the server responds with the requested resource, along with status information and headers. HTTP uses a uniform resource identifier (URI) to specify the resource location and methods to indicate the desired action to be performed on the resource.

Here is an example of an HTTP request and response:

    
// HTTP Request
GET /index.html HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com

// HTTP Response
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: text/html




    Example Page


    

Hello, World!

In this example, the client sends a GET request for the "index.html" resource to the server "www.example.com". The server responds with a 200 OK status code and returns an HTML document containing the message "Hello, World!".

Key Features of HTTP:

  • Statelessness: Each request from a client to a server is treated independently, without any knowledge of previous requests.
  • Methods: HTTP defines several request methods, such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, which indicate the desired action to be performed on a resource.
  • Headers: HTTP headers provide additional information about the request or response, such as content type, status codes, and caching directives.
  • Cookies: HTTP cookies allow servers to track and maintain session information between requests from the same client.

Overall, HTTP is a fundamental protocol of the World Wide Web, facilitating the transfer of data and resources between clients and servers in a standardized manner.