HTTP/S Protocol Basics

Introduction to web protocols

Protocols are rules that guide communication between different elements in a networking environment. The hardware and software work together to complete tasks—for example, to send data across a network through various computers. As such, the web works with many different protocols that allow communication to take place in many different ways.

This leads us to the Open Systems Interconnection Reference model, which is also known as the OSI model. A web application pentester is expected to have a sound understanding of the OSI model. Knowledge of various protocols and how they work, how communication takes place in and across networks, and how to navigate through the complexities of general web infrastructure is a critical aspect of their job.