HTTP11n

HTTP11n is a proposed extension to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol intended as an evolution of HTTP/1.1 to better accommodate modern web workloads. The concept seeks to improve latency, reduce overhead, and simplify deployment while preserving the basic request–response model. The term appears in academic papers and some experimental implementations, but HTTP11n is not an official standard.

Origin and status: The idea emerged in academic and industry discussions during the 2010s as researchers explored ways to optimize header handling, multiplexing, and connection management. While HTTP/2 and later protocols such as HTTP/3 (built on QUIC) advanced similar goals, HTTP11n itself did not reach standardization. Experimental prototypes and benchmarks informed related developments, but HTTP11n remains unofficial.

Technical overview: HTTP11n envisions a framing layer that multiplexes multiple logical streams over a single transport connection to reduce head-of-line blocking and improve bandwidth efficiency. It would include dynamic header compression, stream prioritization, and optional server push capabilities. The design aims to preserve HTTP/1.1 semantics while allowing extensions negotiated through request options or headers. Security considerations emphasize integrated transport security, potentially via TLS with improved cipher negotiation and resilience against certain fingerprinting and downgrade risks.

Implementation and impact: Because HTTP11n has no standard, ecosystem-wide adoption is limited to experimental stacks. Interoperability with existing HTTP/1.1 servers is intended through feature negotiation and graceful fallbacks, but real-world deployment would require coordinated client and server support. Performance claims are speculative and depend on workload, network conditions, and implementation quality.

See also: HTTP/1.1, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, QUIC.