What is http2-spec?

httpwg/http2-spec — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-06-26

★ 3,760MakefileAudience · developerComplexity · 1/5Setup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((HTTP2 Spec))
    What it is
      IETF working draft
      RFC 7540 revision
      Protocol spec text
    Content
      HTTP2 protocol rules
      HPACK reference copy
      HTML and text formats
    Who uses it
      Standards reviewers
      Browser implementers
      Protocol researchers
    Process
      IETF working group
      Community contributions

mindmap root((HTTP2 Spec)) What it is IETF working draft RFC 7540 revision Protocol spec text Content HTTP2 protocol rules HPACK reference copy HTML and text formats Who uses it Standards reviewers Browser implementers Protocol researchers Process IETF working group Community contributions

Click or tap to explore — scroll the page freely

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Read the latest revision draft of the HTTP/2 specification to understand protocol rules for browser or server implementation

USE CASE 2

Follow the revision process as the IETF working group corrects and refines the HTTP/2 standard

USE CASE 3

Reference the HPACK header compression specification alongside the main HTTP/2 text

What is it built with?

Makefile

How does it compare?

	httpwg/http2-spec	manna-harbour/miryoku	bgreenwell/doxx
Stars	3,760	3,700	3,669
Language	Makefile	Makefile	Makefile
Setup difficulty	easy	moderate	easy
Complexity	1/5	3/5	1/5
Audience	developer	developer	developer

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

So what is it?

This repository is the working area where the HTTP/2 specification is being revised. HTTP/2 is a widely used protocol that governs how web browsers and servers transfer data. It is the second major version of the HTTP protocol, which forms the foundation of all communication on the web. The original HTTP/2 specification was published as RFC 7540, and this repository holds the draft text for an updated version of that document. An RFC, or Request for Comments, is a formal document published by internet standards organizations that defines how protocols, systems, and formats should work. When a protocol needs updates or corrections, a working group produces a revised draft. This repository is where that revision draft lives and gets edited by the group responsible for HTTP standards at the IETF. The repository also includes an updated copy of the HPACK specification, originally published as RFC 7541. HPACK is a compression format designed specifically for HTTP/2 headers, which reduces the overhead of sending repeated header information between client and server. The working group notes that the HPACK document is not itself being revised here, it is included only for reference alongside the main HTTP/2 revision work. The README is sparse. It links to the editor's copy of the revision draft in both HTML and plain-text formats, but does not describe what specific changes the revision introduces or the reasons behind them. If you are a developer, standards reviewer, or technical researcher interested in the exact wording of the HTTP/2 standard or want to follow the revision process, this repository is where the current working text lives.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

Explain the key differences between the original HTTP/2 spec in RFC 7540 and the revised draft in httpwg/http2-spec

Prompt 2

How does HPACK header compression work in HTTP/2 and why was it designed as a separate spec from the main protocol?

Prompt 3

I am implementing an HTTP/2 server. Based on httpwg/http2-spec, what are the most critical rules I must follow for stream multiplexing and flow control?

Frequently asked questions