HTTP Request Header

Last Updated: February 2, 2017

Definition - What does HTTP Request Header mean?

An HTTP request header is a component of a network packet sent by a browser or client to the server to request for a specific page or data on the Web server. It is used in Web communications or Internet browsing to transport user requests to the corresponding website’s Web server.

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Techopedia explains HTTP Request Header

An HTTP request header primarily enables a user in accessing a website. Each time a user website or webpage in a browser, an HTTP request header is generated by the browser and is sent to the website / Web server. Typically, the information within the HTTP request header is in form of plain text record of data/page request made by the user. Some of the information within an HTTP request header includes:

Source IP address and port number
Requested URI (data or web page)
Host (Destination website or web server)
Type of data the browser will accept in return (text, html, xml etc)
User’s browser type (Mozilla, Chrome, IE) so that the Web server can send compatible data

In response, the Web server/host sends back an HTTP response header containing the requested data.