What is HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)? Select the description that best defines HTTP in web communication.

Introduction / Context:
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) underpins the World Wide Web by defining how clients (browsers) and servers communicate request and response messages. Understanding HTTP is fundamental for web developers, DBAs supporting web apps, and network engineers.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• HTTP is an application-layer protocol.
• It transports hypermedia documents (HTML, JSON, images, etc.).
• It does not directly handle database queries.

Concept / Approach:

HTTP specifies methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.), status codes, headers, and body semantics used to exchange web resources. Browsers send HTTP requests; servers return responses that the browser renders or processes. File copying protocols (like FTP/SFTP) and database protocols (like TDS for SQL Server) are different technologies with different goals.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Use browser dev tools to inspect network traffic; you will see HTTP/HTTPS requests and responses with headers, status codes, and payloads.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

File copy: more aligned with FTP/SFTP, not HTTP.

Database protocol: handled by drivers/middleware, not HTTP directly (except via APIs that translate).

Hardware/software security protocol limiting access describes firewalls or IAM, not HTTP.

Common Pitfalls:

Assuming HTTP provides confidentiality/integrity by itself; those properties come with HTTPS (HTTP over TLS).

Final Answer:

The transfer protocol to transfer Web pages to a browser