HTTP

Meaning

HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol: the set of rules browsers and servers use to exchange web pages and other resources. Each request returns a status code: 200 means success, a redirect code means the page moved, 404 means not found and a 5xx code means a server problem. Search engines read these codes, so a removed page should return a sensible response rather than a misleading success. HTTPS is the encrypted version. See also: HTTPS, Redirect, and the guide Technical SEO Basics: Speed, Mobile, Crawling and Security.