A request is a formal or informal act of asking for something to be provided, performed, or allowed. In the context of technology and web development, a request typically refers to a message sent by a client to a server, asking for specific information or action. For example, when a user visits a website, their browser sends an HTTP request to the server, which then processes the request and returns the appropriate response, such as a web page or data. Requests are fundamental to client-server communication and are essential for the functioning of web applications and APIs.