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Client-Server Model in HTTP

1. Introduction

The Client-Server Model is a foundational concept in the HTTP protocol, whereby a client requests resources from a server, which processes the request and returns the desired data. This model enables web applications to function by distinguishing the roles of client and server.

2. Key Concepts

2.1 Definitions

  • Client: A device or application that requests resources from a server.
  • Server: A system that processes requests and sends responses back to clients.
  • HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): The protocol used for transferring hypertext requests and information on the internet.

2.2 Interaction Flow

The interaction between client and server can be summarized in the following steps:

  1. Client initiates an HTTP request.
  2. Request is sent to the server.
  3. Server processes the request.
  4. Server sends back an HTTP response.

3. Step-by-Step Process

3.1 Request Creation

The client creates an HTTP request to access a resource:

GET /index.html HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0
Accept: text/html

3.2 Request Transmission

The request is sent over the network to the server via a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.

3.3 Server Processing

The server processes the request, accessing any necessary data or resources.

3.4 Response Creation

The server creates an HTTP response:

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: text/html
Content-Length: 1234



Example

Hello, World!