Web requests are messages that your computer sends to websites when you want to see something online. Every time you click a link or type a website address, your computer asks the website to send back the page you want to see.
Think of web requests like ordering food at a restaurant. You tell the waiter what you want, and they bring it back to you. Web requests work the same way – your computer asks a website for something, and the website sends it back.
Learning about web requests helps you understand why websites sometimes load slowly or don’t work properly. This knowledge is useful for anyone who uses the internet regularly.
What Are Web Requests?
Web requests are simple messages that your browser sends to websites to get information. When you want to see a webpage, watch a video, or look at pictures online, your browser creates a web request.
These requests travel through the internet using HTTP (which stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol). HTTP is like a language that computers use to talk to each other online.
Every web request asks for something specific, like a webpage, an image, or a video. The website then sends back what you asked for, or tells you if it can’t find it.
How Web Requests Work Step by Step
The Simple Process
Web requests happen in 7 easy steps:
- You click or type: You click a link or type a website address
- Finding the website: Your computer finds where the website lives
- Making contact: Your computer connects to the website
- Asking for what you want: Your computer sends the request
- Website thinks: The website figures out what to send you
- Getting your answer: The website sends back what you wanted
- Seeing the result: Your browser shows you the webpage or content
Finding Websites
When you type “google.com,” your computer doesn’t know where Google actually is on the internet. It needs to find Google’s address (called an IP address) first.
Your computer asks special helper computers called DNS servers to find this address. It’s like looking up a phone number in a phone book. Once your computer knows the address, it can connect to the website.
Safe vs Unsafe Connections
Websites can connect to your computer in 2 different ways:
HTTP connections send information in plain text. Anyone can read this information if they intercept it. These connections are not safe for passwords or personal information.
HTTPS connections scramble all information before sending it. Only your computer and the website can understand the scrambled messages. These connections are safe for passwords and personal information.
Different Types of Web Requests
GET Requests
GET requests ask for information without changing anything on the website. Most of the time when you browse the internet, you’re making GET requests.
Examples of GET requests:
- Loading a webpage
- Looking at photos
- Reading articles
- Searching for something
GET requests show up in your browser’s address bar. You can bookmark them or share them with friends.
POST Requests
POST requests send information to websites. You make POST requests when you fill out forms or upload files.
Examples of POST requests:
- Signing up for accounts
- Posting comments
- Uploading photos
- Making online purchases
POST requests don’t show up in your address bar. They’re more private than GET requests.
Other Request Types
PUT requests replace entire pieces of information on websites. If you edit your whole profile on a social media site, you might use a PUT request.
PATCH requests change small parts of information. If you only change your profile picture, you might use a PATCH request.
DELETE requests remove information from websites. If you delete a post or cancel an account, you use a DELETE request.
Parts of Web Requests
Request Information
Every web request includes extra information that helps websites understand what you want. This information is called headers.
Important headers include:
- What browser you use: Like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari
- What language you speak: So the website can show content in your language
- What type of content you want: Like HTML for webpages or images for pictures
- Your login information: If you’re signed into the website
Request Data
Some web requests carry extra data along with them. GET requests usually don’t carry extra data, but POST requests often do.
This extra data can include:
- Text you typed in forms
- Files you want to upload
- Your username and password
- Comments you want to post
Web Addresses with Extra Information
Sometimes web addresses have extra parts that give more information to websites. These parts come after a question mark (?) in the address.
Example:
https://example.com/search?word=cats&color=orange
This tells the website to search for orange cats.
Keeping Web Requests Safe
HTTPS Protection
HTTPS keeps your web requests safe by scrambling all information before sending it. This scrambling is called encryption.
HTTPS provides 3 types of protection:
- Privacy: Nobody else can read your information
- Safety: Nobody can change your information while it travels
- Trust: You know you’re really talking to the right website
Common Dangers
Web requests can face 5 main dangers:
Hackers listening in can intercept your requests if you don’t use HTTPS. They might steal passwords or personal information.
Bad code on websites can steal your information or make your computer do things you don’t want.
Fake websites can trick you into giving them your passwords or personal information.
Unwanted actions can happen when bad websites make requests using your account without asking.
Too many requests can make websites crash or become very slow for everyone.
Making Web Requests Faster
Fewer Requests
Making fewer requests helps websites load faster. Instead of asking for many small things, websites can combine them into fewer, larger requests.
Ways to make fewer requests:
- Putting multiple files together
- Loading images only when needed
- Storing things on your computer for later use
- Combining small images into one big image
Making Files Smaller
Smaller files transfer faster over the internet. Websites can squeeze files to make them smaller without losing any information.
Gzip squeezing can make text files 70-90% smaller. This works great for webpages and code files.
Brotli squeezing works even better than Gzip and can make files 15-25% smaller than Gzip.
Storing Things Nearby
Storing content closer to users makes websites load faster. This is called caching.
Browser storage keeps files on your computer so you don’t need to download them again every time you visit a website.
Content networks put copies of websites in many places around the world. You get content from the location closest to you.
When Things Go Wrong
Error Messages
When web requests don’t work, websites send back error codes that explain what went wrong.
Success codes (200s):
- 200: Everything worked perfectly
- 201: Something new was created successfully
- 204: Request worked but there’s nothing to show
Your mistake codes (400s):
- 400: Your request was formatted wrong
- 401: You need to log in first
- 403: You’re not allowed to see this
- 404: The page doesn’t exist
Website problem codes (500s):
- 500: The website has a problem
- 502: The website can’t connect to other computers it needs
- 503: The website is too busy right now
Finding Problems
Browser tools help you see what’s happening with web requests. These tools show you all the requests your browser makes and help you find problems.
Useful tools include:
- Network viewer: Shows all requests and how long they take
- Error log: Shows problems with the website
- Security checker: Shows if connections are safe
- Speed tester: Shows what’s making the website slow
Modern Web Applications
Single Page Apps
Single page apps work differently than regular websites. They load once and then get new content without refreshing the whole page.
Benefits of single page apps:
- Faster browsing: No waiting for whole pages to reload
- Smoother experience: Everything feels more like a computer program
- Less data used: Only new information downloads
- Works offline: Some features work without internet
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
APIs let different computer programs talk to each other using web requests. Many apps and websites use APIs to share information.
REST APIs use the same request types (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) that regular websites use. They follow simple rules that make them easy to understand.
GraphQL APIs let you ask for exactly the information you need. This prevents downloading too much or too little information.
Best Ways to Use Web Requests
Making Requests Better
Good web requests follow simple rules that make websites faster and more reliable.
Important rules:
- Keep requests small: Don’t send unnecessary information
- Use the right type: GET for getting, POST for sending
- Store things properly: Save frequently used content
- Squeeze files: Make them smaller before sending
- Group requests: Combine related requests when possible
Staying Safe
Safe web requests protect your information and prevent bad things from happening to your computer.
Safety rules:
- Always use HTTPS: Especially for passwords and personal information
- Check information: Make sure data is safe before using it
- Verify identity: Make sure you know who you’re talking to
- Prevent abuse: Stop bad actors from making too many requests
- Limit access: Only let authorized people make certain requests
What’s Coming Next
HTTP/3 – The New Standard
HTTP/3 is the newest way for computers to make web requests. It’s faster and more reliable than older methods.
HTTP/3 improvements:
- Connects faster: Less waiting to start talking to websites
- Handles problems better: Keeps working even when some data gets lost
- More secure: Better protection built in
- Handles many requests: Better at doing multiple things at once
Web Assembly
Web Assembly lets computer programs run in your browser at nearly the same speed as regular computer programs. These programs can make web requests too.
Web Assembly benefits:
- Very fast: Almost as fast as regular computer programs
- Many languages: Works with different programming languages
- Safe: Can’t harm your computer
- Small size: Downloads quickly
Frequently Asked Questions
Are web requests always safe?
No. Web requests are only safe when websites use HTTPS. Regular HTTP requests can be read by anyone who intercepts them.
Can web requests work without internet?
No. Web requests need internet to reach websites. However, your browser can show you pages it saved earlier until you get internet back.
Do web requests use my phone data?
Yes. Web requests use data from your phone plan when you’re not connected to WiFi. Bigger requests use more data.
Are bigger web requests always slower?
Yes. Bigger requests take longer to send and receive. However, modern techniques can make big files smaller and faster to transfer.
Can bad websites make requests for me?
Yes. Some bad websites try to trick your browser into making requests you didn’t want. Good websites protect against this.
Do web requests show where I am?
Sometimes. Web requests include your internet address, which can show your general location. Special tools can hide your real location.
Are phone web requests different from computer requests?
No. Phones and computers use the same rules for web requests. However, websites might send different content to phones because of their smaller screens.
Can I see all the web requests my browser makes?
Yes. Your browser has tools that show you every request it makes. This helps you understand what websites are doing.
Conclusion
Web requests are the basic way computers talk to websites on the internet. Understanding how your browser asks websites for information helps you solve problems when websites don’t work properly and understand why some sites load faster than others.
The internet keeps getting better with new technologies that make web requests faster, safer, and more efficient. Learning these basics helps you understand current websites and prepares you for future improvements.
Everyone who uses the internet benefits from understanding web requests. This knowledge helps you stay safer online, troubleshoot problems, and make better choices about the websites and apps you use. As the internet continues to grow and change, web requests will remain the foundation of how everything works online.
