nonHTTP

NonHTTP refers to communication and data transfer mechanisms that do not use the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) for exchange. It covers a broad range of protocols designed for different tasks, including file transfer, email, messaging, streaming, and device management.

Common examples include file transfer protocols such as FTP, FTPS, and SFTP; email protocols like SMTP, IMAP, and POP3; streaming and real-time media protocols such as RTSP and RTP; messaging and publish-subscribe systems such as MQTT, AMQP, and XMPP; and peer-to-peer or distributed transfer protocols such as BitTorrent. Additional categories include network management and time synchronization protocols like SNMP and NTP. These protocols typically operate on their own port ranges and have distinct session, state, and security models compared with HTTP.

NonHTTP protocols are chosen for reasons including efficiency, real-time requirements, binary or specialized data formats, persistent connections, and compatibility with legacy systems or devices that expose non-HTTP interfaces. Security approaches vary, with some protocols relying on TLS, SSL, or SSH for encryption, while others use alternative mechanisms specific to the protocol.

In practice, nonHTTP remains important alongside HTTP-based services. While the majority of public web traffic uses HTTP or HTTPS, many enterprise networks, IoT deployments, multimedia delivery systems, and legacy applications depend on non-HTTP protocols to meet performance, reliability, and interoperability needs. Standards and specifications for these protocols are published by organizations such as the IETF, ISO, and other technical bodies, providing defined interfaces and behavior for interoperable implementations.