HTTP headers are metadata exchanged between the client (e.g., a browser) and the server during HTTP requests and responses. They contain important information for communication, such as:
Cache-Control
for caching rules).User-Agent
, which identifies the browser type).Server
, which indicates the web server used).Content-Type
, which specifies the media type of the response).Example of an HTTP request with headers:
GET /index.html HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0
Accept: text/html
Example of an HTTP response with headers:
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: text/html
Content-Length: 3456
Server: Apache
HTTP headers are commonly used for security (e.g., Strict-Transport-Security
), performance optimization (e.g., Cache-Control
), and authentication (e.g., Authorization
).
The client-server architecture is a common concept in computing that describes the structure of networks and applications. It separates tasks between client and server components, which can run on different machines or devices. Here are the basic features:
Client: The client is an end device or application that sends requests to the server. These can be computers, smartphones, or specific software applications. Clients are typically responsible for user interaction and send requests to obtain information or services from the server.
Server: The server is a more powerful computer or software application that handles client requests and provides corresponding responses or services. The server processes the logic and data and sends the results back to the clients.
Communication: Communication between clients and servers generally happens over a network, often using protocols such as HTTP (for web applications) or TCP/IP. Clients send requests, and servers respond with the requested data or services.
Centralized Resources: Servers provide centralized resources, such as databases or applications, that can be used by multiple clients. This enables efficient resource usage and simplifies maintenance and updates.
Scalability: The client-server architecture allows systems to scale easily. Additional servers can be added to distribute the load, or more clients can be supported to serve more users.
Security: By separating the client and server, security measures can be implemented centrally, making it easier to protect data and services.
Overall, the client-server architecture offers a flexible and efficient way to provide applications and services in distributed systems.