HTTP and WWW are two different acronyms used in day-to-day browsing activities. Precisely, the Uniform resource locator is the place where these acronyms come in handy. When talking about the main differences between them, most of the population is unaware of the facts. Started in the 1980s, both of them laid an initiative for the betterment of internet users.
HTTP vs WWW
The difference between HTTP and WWW is that the latter is used as a prefix in URLs. HTTP communicates between browsers and servers of a website. Also, HTTP transports data from one machine source to another online.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a language that communicates between browsers and servers of a website. It defines the way messages are sent and formatted in a web browser. HTTP shows the website’s way to a particular designation or address using a protocol. It is also known as a stateless mode as it works on the demand of the user.
World Wide Web (WWW) acts as a prefix to the HTTP protocol most of the time. It is a set of linked hypertext records viewed on Chrome, Firefox, and other search engines. Also, it identifies a distinct address as a website. In short, WWW is just a subdomain that collects data from various places using a single domain.
Comparison Table Between HTTP and WWW
| Parameters of Comparison | HTTP | WWW |
| Significance | HTTP communicates between browsers and servers of a website. Also, HTTP transports data from one machine source to another online. | WWW is used as a prefix in URLs. |
| Full form | HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. | WWW stands for World Wide Web. |
| Necessity | It is not mandatory to use HTTP in a URL while creating or reaching out to it. | When it comes to Search Engine Optimization, it is important to use a WWW domain. |
| Mutual Relationship | Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a language that communicates between browsers and servers of a website. | World Wide Web (WWW) acts as a prefix to the HTTP protocol most of the time. |
| Ports used | HTTPS uses 483 ports for encryption and decryption of data, whereas HTTP uses 80 ports to function. | World Wide Web can act as a domain and a sub-domain that can operate with or without HTTP. |
What is HTTP?
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a language that communicates between browsers and servers of a website. It defines the way messages are sent and formatted in a web browser. HTTP shows the website’s way to a particular designation or address using a protocol. It is also known as a stateless mode as it works on the demand of the user.
HTTP is a way to make a connection(s) that also secures the transfer of data. It serves text documents and binary files and makes client-server connection feasible. Apart from this, HTTP asks the server for the transfer of files and communication with a browser. It is not mandatory to use HTTP in a URL while creating it.
Talking about the successor of HTTP, it is just a more secure version. HTTPS is a protocol that over Secure Socket Layer. It ensures that the client-server communication is encrypted over SSL. Also, HTTPS uses 483 ports for encryption and decryption of data. The main use of HTTPS comes into action while doing online transactions by any mode of payment.
What is WWW?
World Wide Web (WWW) acts as a prefix to the HTTP protocol most of the time. It is a set of linked hypertext records, viewed on Chrome, Firefox, and other search engines. Also, it identifies a distinct address as a website. In short, WWW is just a subdomain that collects data from various places using a single domain.
When it comes down to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), it isn’t important to have a WWW domain. One can use a non-WWW domain to run a website. Not using these two together is the best option to keep a website properly optimized. It not only ensures optimization but also improves the ranking of the website.
WWW as a prefix shows that the website is using HTTP protocol for client-server communication. Also, it can be used throughout with some special exception cases. WWW has no technical purpose, and a website can work without it pretty efficiently too. Almost all the WWW browsers can use other protocols except HTTP. These are some of the uses of WWW that led to the rapid growth of the internet worldwide.
Main Differences Between HTTP and WWW
- HTTP communicates between browsers and servers of a website. Also, HTTP transports data from one machine source to another online. On the other hand, WWW is used as a prefix in URLs.
- HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, whereas WWW stands for World Wide Web.
- It is not mandatory to use HTTP in a URL while creating or reaching out to it. When it comes to Search Engine Optimization, it is important to use a WWW domain.
- Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a language that communicates between browsers and servers of a website, whereas the World Wide Web (WWW) acts as a prefix to the HTTP protocol most of the time.
- HTTPS uses 483 ports for encryption and decryption of data, whereas HTTP uses 80 ports to function. On the other hand, World Wide Web can act as a domain as well as a sub-domain that can operate with or without HTTP.
Conclusion
Using these two acronyms is not mandatory but makes your website more efficient and secure. Although HTTP and WWW are a lot different, most of the time, they coexist. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a language that communicates between browsers and servers of a website. On the other hand, World Wide Web (WWW) acts as a prefix to the HTTP protocol most of the time.
HTTP is a way to make a connection(s) that also secures the transfer of data. It serves text documents and binary files and makes client-server connection feasible. WWW as a prefix shows that the website is using HTTP protocol for client-server communication. Also, it can be used throughout with some special exception cases.
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