HTTPkärnor

HTTPkärnor (HTTP cores) are the core components of an HTTP processing system that handle the lifecycle from request reception to response emission. The term is most commonly used in Swedish-language discussions of web servers and frameworks and denotes the protocol- and performance-critical kernel of the stack, as opposed to application-specific logic or higher-level middleware.

Origin and usage: The phrase is not an official standard in English-language documentation and is not universally used; it typically appears in discussions of modular or high-performance HTTP servers. In practice, HTTPkärnor describe the part of the system that directly implements the HTTP protocol and manages low-level I/O, while pluggable components extend functionality.

Key responsibilities: Core tasks include parsing and validating HTTP requests, handling methods, headers, and query parameters, performing routing or dispatch to handlers, applying content negotiation, assembling responses, and handling errors. They may also coordinate with connection management, security checks, and performance optimizations such as buffering strategies and compression.

Architecture and interfaces: HTTPkärnor are often designed as a modular kernel that separates protocol handling from application code. The kernel handles raw connections, state machines, and middleware interfaces, while external modules provide features like caching, authentication, logging, and metrics. This separation enables independent optimization and easier testing of low-level HTTP behavior.

Performance considerations: Efficient parsing, minimal memory usage, and scalable concurrency are central concerns. Implementations commonly employ incremental parsers, zero-copy data paths, and support for modern HTTP features (pipelining, HTTP/2, and HTTP/3) within the kernel, while higher layers implement business logic.