Each time we open a webpage, click a link, or use an application, a request is made from the client to a server. It happens within a matter of a few seconds. However, there is a complete process occurring behind the scenes. It is essential to comprehend this process while learning web development and networking.
Client and Server
The client is a device or application that makes a request. It can be a laptop or a mobile phone with a browser. Similarly, the server is a device or application that receives the request and provides the desired response.
Step 1: User Action
The process begins when a user enters a URL into the browser or clicks on a link. It is a command to the browser to ask for a specific resource from the internet.
Step 2: DNS Resolution
The browser does not directly understand domain names like www.google.com
. Therefore, it uses a Domain Name System (DNS) to resolve the domain name into an IP address. It is essential to locate the correct server.
Step 3: Establishing Connection
The client now uses IP addresses and protocols like TCP to establish a connection with the server. This allows data to be sent over the connection.
Step 4: Sending the Request
The browser now sends an HTTP request to the server. The request will have details like:
Method - GET/POST etc.
URL/Endpoint
Headers and other data
Step 5: Server Processing
The server now gets the request and starts processing it. The server may need to interact with databases, fetch data etc., depending upon the request received.
Step 6: Sending the Response
After the server has processed the request, it will now send an HTTP response. The response may contain:
HTML Content
JSON Data
HTTP Status Codes - 200 OK, 404 Not Found etc.
Step 7: Displaying the Output
Finally, the browser gets the response and renders it, showing the user the webpage or result.
Conclusion
The process of a request going from the client to the server involves several steps. Even though the process occurs in a matter of milliseconds, each step of the process has an important contribution to make towards facilitating communication over the internet. The process of a request going from the client to the server forms a strong foundation upon which backend development and other aspects of modern web technologies are created.
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