HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

HTTP, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is a foundational technology for the World Wide Web, used primarily for transmitting and receiving information across the internet. HTTP defines the rules and standards for these communications, allowing web browsers to retrieve web content from servers or send data to web servers, which is then displayed to users.

The protocol functions as a request-response system between clients (usually web browsers) and servers. When a user types a URL into their browser, an HTTP command is sent to the Web server directing it to fetch and transmit the requested Web page. The server, upon receiving the request, processes it and returns the corresponding web page to the client, using HTTP as the mode of delivery.

Although traditionally used for transmitting hypertext documents (web pages), HTTP can also be used to transfer images, videos, and other types of data. The protocol itself is stateless, meaning it does not retain information across different sessions; each request is treated independently, without any knowledge of the requests that came before it.

HTTP operates typically over TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) and uses port 80 by default. Security concerns with HTTP (such as eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks) led to the development of HTTPS (HTTP Secure), which encrypts data for secure communication over a computer network.

This protocol is not directly related to "connecting computer networks" as previously described, but rather it operates over the network to enable the exchange of web resources. It is an essential part of the internet's infrastructure, enabling the functioning and browsing of the World Wide Web.