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httpwg/http2-spec

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TLDR

The working draft text for the revised HTTP/2 protocol specification, maintained by the IETF HTTP working group as they update the original RFC 7540 standard and include an HPACK reference copy.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((HTTP2 Spec))
    What it is
      IETF working draft
      RFC 7540 revision
      Protocol spec text
    Content
      HTTP2 protocol rules
      HPACK reference copy
      HTML and text formats
    Who uses it
      Standards reviewers
      Browser implementers
      Protocol researchers
    Process
      IETF working group
      Community contributions
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Code map

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Read the latest revision draft of the HTTP/2 specification to understand protocol rules for browser or server implementation

USE CASE 2

Follow the revision process as the IETF working group corrects and refines the HTTP/2 standard

USE CASE 3

Reference the HPACK header compression specification alongside the main HTTP/2 text

Tech stack

Makefile

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

In plain English

This repository is the working area where the HTTP/2 specification is being revised. HTTP/2 is a widely used protocol that governs how web browsers and servers transfer data. It is the second major version of the HTTP protocol, which forms the foundation of all communication on the web. The original HTTP/2 specification was published as RFC 7540, and this repository holds the draft text for an updated version of that document. An RFC, or Request for Comments, is a formal document published by internet standards organizations that defines how protocols, systems, and formats should work. When a protocol needs updates or corrections, a working group produces a revised draft. This repository is where that revision draft lives and gets edited by the group responsible for HTTP standards at the IETF. The repository also includes an updated copy of the HPACK specification, originally published as RFC 7541. HPACK is a compression format designed specifically for HTTP/2 headers, which reduces the overhead of sending repeated header information between client and server. The working group notes that the HPACK document is not itself being revised here, it is included only for reference alongside the main HTTP/2 revision work. The README is sparse. It links to the editor's copy of the revision draft in both HTML and plain-text formats, but does not describe what specific changes the revision introduces or the reasons behind them. If you are a developer, standards reviewer, or technical researcher interested in the exact wording of the HTTP/2 standard or want to follow the revision process, this repository is where the current working text lives.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Explain the key differences between the original HTTP/2 spec in RFC 7540 and the revised draft in httpwg/http2-spec
Prompt 2
How does HPACK header compression work in HTTP/2 and why was it designed as a separate spec from the main protocol?
Prompt 3
I am implementing an HTTP/2 server. Based on httpwg/http2-spec, what are the most critical rules I must follow for stream multiplexing and flow control?
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