Keeping track of the connection

Every version of HTTP has evolved in methods to transport and process data, with techniques such as using persistent connections with a pipelining goal to optimize the connection. In addition, because HTTP is a stateless protocol, cookies are used to maintain client information about the connection, such as shopping cart elements and pages the client has visited.

In this segment, we'll compare the different methods of making and maintaining a connection, along with how cookies are used to preserve state information. Let's start by comparing connection types.

Evaluating connection types

When HTTP version 1.0 was developed, it had minimal functionality and used a non-persistent connection. With the introduction of version 1.1, several enhancements were added. One of the improvements was the ability to keep the data moving by using a persistent connection.

Let's start by understanding the mechanics of a non-persistent connection...