HTTP request

Meaning

An HTTP request is a message a browser sends to a server asking for a page, a file or an action, together with data such as headers, cookies and form fields. The request names a method, most often GET to fetch something or POST to submit data, and an address. PHP exposes this information to your script through superglobal arrays such as the one for GET data and the one for POST data. A search box that adds your keyword to the address is a typical GET request. See also: HTTP response, Cookie, and the guide How PHP Works on the Server: Request and Response Explained.