HTTP requests are messages sent by a client, typically a web browser or application, to a server in order to retrieve or send data over the internet. Each request follows the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and includes a method (such as GET, POST, PUT, or DELETE), a target URL, headers, and sometimes a body containing data. Servers process these requests and respond with the requested information or an appropriate status code. HTTP requests are fundamental to how web pages, APIs, and online services communicate and exchange information.