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RFC 7540: HTTP/2: Multiplexing over one connection

Summary

RFC 7540 introduces binary frames, parallel streams and header compression for HTTP. RFC 7540 was superseded by RFC 9113. Multiplexing reduces application delay but remains tied to TCP packet loss.

Ideas

  • Several requests share one TCP connection.
  • Frames of different streams are interleaved.
  • HPACK compresses recurring headers.

Insights

  • Binary protocols increase efficiency and the effort of diagnosis.

Remarks

  • RFC 7540 has the status “Proposed Standard”; current errata and successor documents should also be checked.

Recommendations

  • Use current implementations with security updates.
  • Monitor stream, connection and proxy limits separately.

References

Read the RFC at the RFC Editor

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