What Is HTTP/2 and How It Improves Performance

Short answer

HTTP/2 is a major revision of the HTTP protocol that enables multiplexing, header compression, and server push. It reduces latency without requiring changes to application code.

How it works

HTTP/2 sends multiple requests and responses simultaneously over a single TCP connection. Headers are compressed with HPACK, and binary framing replaces textual headers.

Example

A page with 50 images loads faster on HTTP/2 because the browser does not need to open multiple connections. All assets stream concurrently.

Why it matters

HTTP/1.1's head-of-line blocking caused significant delays. HTTP/2 improves perceived performance on modern websites with many small assets.