Chapter 4. HTTP/2 protocol basics
This chapter covers
This chapter covers the basics of HTTP/2 (frames, streams, and multiplexing). I discuss more advanced parts of the protocol (in particular, stream prioritization and flow control) in chapters 7 and 8. The HTTP/2 specification[1] is the ultimate reference point for the protocol and can be referred to after or in conjunction with this chapter, but the added detail and examples in this chapter will (I hope) make learning the protocol easier.
I touched on the differences between HTTP/1 and HTTP/2 in chapter 2. HTTP/2 was created specifically to address performance problems in HTTP/1, and the new version of the protocol differs by adding the following concepts:
- Binary rather than textual protocol
- Multiplexed rather than synchronous
- Flow control
- Stream prioritization
- Header compression
- Server push