HTTP file transfer is the exchange of requests and responses that lets a client retrieve a resource representation or send content for a server to process. A browser commonly uses GET to request a resource; clients can use POST to submit content for processing or PUT to ask that the target resource’s current representation be replaced. The server’s support depends on the resource and its implementation.
What HTTP file transfer means
HTTP is an application-level, stateless request/response protocol. A client sends a request to a server, and the server returns a response. That exchange can carry a representation of a resource, or content submitted by the client for the resource to process. A resource is not necessarily a file or a path on a server’s filesystem; HTTP describes interactions with resources through a uniform interface.
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The phrase “file transfer” is useful for familiar download and upload examples, but it is narrower than HTTP itself. HTTP also supports broader interactions with hypermedia and other resource representations. The shared method semantics are defined in RFC 9110.
How GET, POST, and PUT differ
These methods describe different intended operations; they are not simply interchangeable labels for downloading and uploading.
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| Method | Defined operation | Typical file-related example |
|---|---|---|
GET |
Requests transfer of a current representation of the target resource. | A browser requests a document or image and receives its representation in the response. |
POST |
Asks the target resource to process the content included in the request. | A client submits form data or content for a resource to process. |
PUT |
Asks that the target resource’s current representations be replaced with the request content. | A client sends content intended to replace the representation at that resource. |
POST does not simply mean “upload,” and PUT does not simply mean “create a file.” Whether an operation is available—and what a resource does with submitted content—depends on the server’s behavior for that target resource, within the method’s semantics. The standards do not guarantee that every server enables every method.
What happens in a basic HTTP transfer
- The client identifies a resource. It sends an HTTP request naming the target and specifying a method such as GET, POST, or PUT.
- The server handles the request. It interprets the method and other request information for that resource. For content submission, the request may include content for the resource to process.
- The server responds. It returns a status and, where applicable, response content containing a representation.
For a download, the client commonly uses GET and receives a representation. For a submission, the client sends request content and the resource processes it according to the method and its own behavior.
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HTTP semantics are not the same as HTTP/1.1 syntax
RFC 9110 defines semantics shared across HTTP versions. The wire format and connection handling are specified separately for each version. For example, RFC 9112 specifies HTTP/1.1 message syntax, parsing, connection management, and related security concerns. HTTP file transfer therefore does not mean HTTP/1.1 only, nor does every HTTP version use the same wire format. MDN’s HTTP overview and resources and specifications reference list related HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 specifications.
Quick Recap
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