Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

Any communication between two parties requires a clear understanding of how the communication will be conducted. For example, a telephone conversation is initiated by the caller lifting the handset from the cradle, checking for a dial tone, and if the dial tone is present, beginning to dial the desired number. This is usually comprised of a country code prefix, followed by the country code, an area code, and the phone number. If the call is made to another phone within the same country, or within the same area code, the caller might skip these elements.

At the receiving end, the protocol is much simpler. The called party waits until the phone begins to ring, at which point, she picks up the phone and indicates that she is ready to receive the communication by saying 'Hello'.

This telephony protocol has been in place for so many years that it has now become second nature to us, and seems quite unremarkable. Until of course, you move to a different country...