httpuv

httpuv is a lightweight, high-performance HTTP server and client library for R. It provides the building blocks for creating web applications and APIs directly within the R environment. Developed by Jeff Allen, httpuv allows R users to serve dynamic content, handle incoming HTTP requests, and interact with external web services.

The library's core functionality revolves around managing HTTP connections and parsing requests and responses. It enables R code to act as a web server, listening for connections on a specified port. When a request arrives, httpuv can parse it, making elements like the request method, headers, and body accessible within R. Similarly, it facilitates the construction and sending of HTTP responses, allowing R to return HTML, JSON, or other data formats to clients.

httpuv is often used in conjunction with R web frameworks like Shiny, which leverages httpuv to power interactive web applications. It also finds application in building RESTful APIs for R-based data services. Its design emphasizes efficiency and responsiveness, making it suitable for various web-related tasks within the R ecosystem. The library supports features such as WebSocket communication, enabling real-time, bidirectional data exchange between the server and clients.