Basics of HTTP2

Hypertext Transfer Protocol

CSCI 2850 - Spring 2015

By Sam Kirkland

HTTP Timeline

1991 - HTTP 0.9

1996 - HTTP 1.0

1999 - HTTP 1.1

2015 - HTTP 2.0

How HTTP 1.1 works

1. TCP connection opened
2. Resource is requested and downloaded
3. TCP connection closed
4. Resource is parsed
5. Repeat...

How HTTP 1.1 works

HTTP2 Changes

• Binary vs. Text
• Multiplexed! (Multiple requests)
• Header Compression
• Server Push
• Server Promise

How HTTP 2 works

Advantages

• Single TCP Connection
  1. Less overhead
  2. Better for the network
• Server Push
• Server Promise

HTTP2 Requirements

• Supported Web Server Updated List
  • NGNIX - Minimal
  • Apache - Nope
  • Windows IIS - Preview
• Supported Web Browser
  • Firefox
  • Chrome/Opera
  • Safari
  • even IE 11+ (Well that wasn't expected)