A request is a fundamental concept in client-server communication. It is a message sent from a client to a server, asking for a specific action to be performed or for data to be returned. The client sends a request to the server, and the server processes the request and sends back a response.
Requests can be made using different protocols, such as HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, or UDP. The request usually includes information about the desired action (e.g., GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and any necessary parameters or data.
In web development, HTTP requests are commonly used to retrieve web pages, send form data, or interact with APIs. There are different types of requests, including:
- GET: Retrieves data from a server.
- POST: Submits data to be processed by a server.
- PUT: Updates an existing resource on the server.
- DELETE: Removes a resource from the server.
Understanding requests is essential for developers working on backend systems, as they need to handle and process incoming requests effectively.