Understanding HTTP2: The Modern Protocol Shaping the Internet

Staying ahead of the curve is essential for maintaining a competitive edge, especially when it comes to website performance and SEO. One innovation that has garnered significant attention is HTTP2 – in fact, it’s one of the most common requests we get from clients when they’re trying to increase their organic visibility.

Introduced to address the growing demand for faster and more efficient web communication, HTTP2 offers a range of enhancements over its predecessor. These improvements are not just technical niceties; they translate directly into tangible benefits for website performance, user experience, and ultimately, SEO.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at what HTTP2 is, how it works, and why adopting it can be a game-changer for your website’s SEO strategy.

What Is HTTP2?

HTTP2 is an updated version of the protocol used by web browsers and servers to communicate and deliver web pages to you. Think of it as a more efficient way for your browser to download all the elements of a web page—like images, text, and videos—faster and with less effort.

Here’s a simple analogy: Imagine you’re at a restaurant, and HTTP/1.1 is like ordering each dish one by one. You have to wait for each one to be delivered before you can order the next. This takes time. HTTP2, on the other hand, is like being able to order everything you want all at once, and the server can bring it all to you quickly, often in the order you need it most.

This means websites load faster, which makes users happier and improves your site’s ranking in search engines.

Why Is It Beneficial For SEO?

HTTP2 is beneficial for SEO primarily because it enhances website performance, which is a key factor in search engine rankings. Here’s how it does this:

• Faster Page Load Times: HTTP2 allows multiple files to be transferred simultaneously over a single connection, unlike HTTP/1.1, where files are sent one at a time. This reduces the time it takes for a webpage to load, and faster loading times are crucial because search engines like Google prioritize speed in their ranking algorithms.
• Improved User Experience: A faster website means users are less likely to bounce (leave the site quickly) and more likely to engage with your content. High bounce rates and low engagement can negatively impact your SEO rankings, so the better user experience provided by HTTP2 can help improve your site’s SEO performance.
• Better Mobile Performance: With more people accessing websites on mobile devices, the speed improvements from HTTP2 become even more significant. Mobile page speed is particularly important for SEO, as Google uses it as a ranking factor specifically for mobile searches.
• Enhanced Security: HTTP2 is often deployed alongside HTTPS (secure HTTP), and security is another factor that search engines consider when ranking sites. Websites that are faster and more secure are more likely to rank higher in search results.
• Support for Modern Browsers: Most modern browsers support HTTP2, which means that upgrading your site to use HTTP2 can help ensure it performs well for the majority of users, contributing to better SEO outcomes.

In summary, HTTP2 makes your website faster, more responsive, and more secure, all of which are critical elements for improving SEO and ensuring that your site ranks well in search engine results.

In A Bit More Detail.

HTTP2 is the second major version of HTTP, introduced by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in 2015. It is the first significant update to the protocol since HTTP/1.1, which was standardised in 1997. HTTP2 was developed based on Google’s SPDY (pronounced “speedy”) protocol and aims to improve the performance of web interactions by addressing the limitations of HTTP/1.1.

Unlike HTTP/1.1, which is text-based, HTTP2 is a binary protocol. This fundamental change allows for more efficient parsing, reduced latency, and improved data compression. HTTP2 is backward compatible with HTTP/1.1, meaning that it can coexist with its predecessor, allowing gradual adoption across the web.

Key Features of HTTP2

HTTP2 introduces several features designed to optimise web performance:

1. Binary Protocol: HTTP2 uses binary framing instead of the textual format used by HTTP/1.1. This change enhances efficiency in parsing data and reduces the complexity of implementing the protocol.
2. Multiplexing: One of the standout features of HTTP2 is multiplexing, which allows multiple requests and responses to be sent simultaneously over a single TCP connection. In HTTP/1.1, each request/response pair required its connection, leading to inefficiencies and increased latency.
3. Header Compression: HTTP2 uses HPACK for header compression, significantly reducing the overhead caused by large headers in HTTP/1.1. This is particularly beneficial for mobile networks where bandwidth is limited.
4. Stream Prioritization: HTTP2 allows clients to prioritise streams, ensuring that critical resources are delivered first. This feature enhances the user experience by allowing important content to load faster.
5. Server Push: HTTP2 introduces server push, where the server can send resources to the client before they are requested. This proactive approach reduces the latency associated with fetching additional resources needed to render a web page.
6. Single Connection: By maintaining a single connection per origin, HTTP2 reduces the overhead of establishing multiple TCP connections, thereby saving resources and enhancing performance.

Conclusion

HTTP2 represents a significant leap forward in web communication protocols, offering enhanced performance, reduced latency, and better resource utilisation. Its features address the limitations of HTTP/1.1, making it an essential upgrade for modern web applications. As the internet continues to evolve, HTTP2 provides the foundation for faster, more efficient, and more secure web experiences, shaping the future of online interactions.

Embracing HTTP2 is not just about keeping up with technological advancements; it’s about providing users with the best possible experience. As more websites and services adopt this protocol, the benefits will become increasingly evident, leading to a faster, more reliable, and more enjoyable internet for everyone.