HTTP in detail Flashcards
Learn about how you request content from a web server using the HTTP protocol
Which protocol is used for transmitting webpage data such as HTML, images, and videos?
* FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
* SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
* HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
* IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
Explanation: HTTP, or HyperText Transfer Protocol, is the foundational protocol used for transmitting webpage data over the internet, including HTML files, images, and videos. It was developed by Tim Berners-Lee and facilitates the communication between web browsers and servers.
What primary advantage does HTTPS provide over HTTP?
* Faster data transfer speeds
* Encryption of data in transit
* Compressing data to reduce size
* Direct file transfer capabilities
Encryption of data in transit
Explanation: HTTPS, which stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure, provides a secure version of HTTP by encrypting the data sent and received. This encryption ensures that the data cannot be easily intercepted or read by unauthorized parties, enhancing privacy and security.
Who was the primary developer of HTTP?
* Vint Cerf
* Marc Andreessen
* Tim Berners-Lee
* Linus Torvalds
Tim Berners-Lee
Explanation: Tim Berners-Lee, along with his team, developed HTTP between 1989 and 1991. This protocol laid the foundation for data communication on the World Wide Web.
Why is HTTPS considered more secure than HTTP?
* Because it uses a different set of TCP/IP protocols
* Because it encrypts the data using SSL or TLS
* Because it prevents the transmission of multimedia content
* Because it uses a faster server response time
Because it encrypts the data using SSL or TLS
Explanation: HTTPS is considered secure because it uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) to encrypt the data being transmitted. This means that any data exchanged between the user’s browser and the web server is encrypted, which prevents eavesdropping and ensures that the user is connected to the authentic server.
What does HTTPS ensure in addition to encrypting data?
* Reduction of data usage
* Verification of server identity
* Increased website loading speeds
* Conversion of HTML to other markup languages
Verification of server identity
Explanation: In addition to encrypting data, HTTPS also verifies the identity of the web server. This is achieved through SSL/TLS certificates, which assure users that they are communicating with the legitimate server and not an imposter, adding a layer of security against man-in-the-middle attacks.
What component of a URL specifies the protocol used to access a web resource?
* Scheme
* Host
* Port
* Path
Scheme
Explanation: The scheme of a URL indicates the protocol that should be used to access a resource on the internet, such as HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP.
In a URL, what does the ‘host’ represent?
* The password required to access the server
* The directory or file path on the server
* The domain name or IP address of the server
* A specific section of the web page
The domain name or IP address of the server
Explanation: The host component of a URL refers to the domain name or IP address of the server that hosts the web resource you are trying to access.
What is the purpose of the ‘port’ in a URL?
* To determine the method of the HTTP request
* To specify the particular protocol version
* To dictate the part of the server to connect to
* To define the path to the resource on the server
To dictate the part of the server to connect to
Explanation: The port in a URL is used to specify the gateway through which to connect to the server, commonly being 80 for HTTP and 443 for HTTPS, but can technically be any port between 1 - 65535.
What is a ‘query string’ in a URL used for?
* Authenticating the user with a username and password
* Sending extra information to the server for processing
* Specifying the fragment of the page to jump to
* Identifying the protocol version being used
Sending extra information to the server for processing
Explanation: The query string in a URL is a way to send additional information to the server, often in the form of key-value pairs, that can affect the resource being requested, like specifying an article ID in a blog request.
What does the ‘fragment’ part of a URL do?
* It encrypts the communication with the server
* It specifies the location on the page to be displayed
* It represents the HTTP method being used for the request
* It tells the server which protocol version is being requested
It specifies the location on the page to be displayed
Explanation: The fragment in a URL is an internal page reference, often preceded by a hash (#), which browsers use to navigate to a specific part of the webpage.
In an HTTP request, what is indicated by the method ‘GET’?
* The type of protocol used to secure the data
* The type of operation the client is performing
* The specific version of the HTTP protocol in use
* The length of content being requested
The type of operation the client is performing
Explanation: The ‘GET’ method in an HTTP request is used to retrieve data from the server. It is one of the request methods defined by HTTP and is specifically used for asking for a specified resource.
What does the ‘200 OK’ status code in an HTTP response indicate?
* The server is ready to accept a new request
* The request was received, understood, and processed successfully
* The requested resource has been permanently moved
* The server experienced an internal error
The request was received, understood, and processed successfully
Explanation: The ‘200 OK’ status code in an HTTP response is an indication from the server that the request has been successfully received, understood, and processed.
What is the ‘Content-Type’ header in an HTTP response used for?
* To specify the browser version making the request
* To provide the date and time of the server
* To inform the client about the type of data in the response
* To indicate the length of the response
To inform the client about the type of data in the response
Explanation: The ‘Content-Type’ header in an HTTP response specifies the media type of the data contained in the response, such as text/html for HTML documents, allowing the client to understand and correctly process the data.
Which HTTP method is used primarily to retrieve data from a server?
* POST
* PUT
* DELETE
* GET
GET
Explanation: The GET method in HTTP is designed to request data from a specified resource on a server. It is one of the most common HTTP methods and is used to retrieve data without affecting the resource.
What is the purpose of the POST method in HTTP?
* To fetch a particular resource from a server
* To submit data to a server for processing
* To update existing data on a server
* To remove data from a server
To submit data to a server for processing
Explanation: The POST method is used to send data to a server to create or update a resource. Typically, POST requests are used to submit form data or upload a file.
When would you use the PUT method in an HTTP request?
* To request a webpage or other resource
* To update a specific resource on the server
* To send a large amount of data in a query string
* To request the deletion of a resource
To update a specific resource on the server
Explanation: The PUT method is used when you want to update a specific resource on the server with the data provided in the request body. It is often used to update existing resources, whereas POST may be used to create new resources.
What does the DELETE method do in an HTTP request?
* It removes a specified resource from the server.
* It looks up the current state of a resource without retrieving it.
* It adds a new resource to the server.
* It encrypts the data being sent to the server.
It removes a specified resource from the server.
Explanation: The DELETE method is used to request that a specified resource be deleted from the server. When successful, it results in the removal of the target resource.
Which HTTP method would you choose to send data to the server to create a new record?
* GET
* POST
* PUT
* DELETE
POST
Explanation: The POST method is commonly used to submit data to a server to create a new record. For example, when you fill out a form on a web page and submit it, the form data is typically sent to the server using a POST request.
Which status code range indicates that the client’s HTTP request was successful?
* 100-199
* 200-299
* 300-399
* 400-499
200-299
Explanation: The status codes ranging from 200-299 indicate a successful HTTP request, with the most common being 200 OK, which means that the request was completed successfully.
What does a 301 status code signify in an HTTP response?
* The server is under maintenance.
* The requested resource has been moved to a new URL permanently.
* The server encountered an error and could not process the request.
* The client made a bad request.
The requested resource has been moved to a new URL permanently.
Explanation: The 301 status code is used to indicate that the requested resource has permanently moved to a new location (URL). This response code is used for permanent URL redirection.
If you receive a 404 status code, what does it mean?
* The server is not currently able to handle the request due to overload or maintenance.
* The request was successful and a new resource was created.
* The requested page or resource could not be found on the server.
* The request method used is not allowed for the requested resource.
The requested page or resource could not be found on the server.
Explanation: The 404 status code is one of the most recognizable and is used to indicate that the server could not find the requested resource. It is commonly known as “Page Not Found”.
What is indicated by a 503 status code?
* The client’s request contained incorrect syntax.
* The client is not authorized to access the requested resource.
* The server is not ready to handle the request, possibly due to overload or maintenance.
* The request method is not supported by the server and cannot be handled.
The server is not ready to handle the request, possibly due to overload or maintenance.
Explanation: A 503 status code means “Service Unavailable”, and it indicates that the server is currently unable to handle the request. This may be due to the server being overloaded or down for maintenance.
What does the status code 403 Forbidden mean?
* The client’s request is incomplete and needs more information.
* The client does not have access rights to the content; hence, it is unauthorized.
* The client has made too many requests in a given amount of time.
* The server has encountered an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling the request.
The client does not have access rights to the content; hence, it is unauthorized.
Explanation: The 403 Forbidden status code indicates that the server understands the request but refuses to authorize it. This means the client does not have the necessary permissions to access the resource, regardless of authentication.
Which HTTP method is used primarily to retrieve data from a server?
* OPTIONS
* PUT
* TRACE
* GET
GET
Explanation: The GET method is used to request data from a specified resource on a server. It is one of the most common HTTP methods used primarily for retrieving data.