HTTP/3 vs. HTTP/2: 3 Major Points Driving the Shift
Abhinav Gupta
Open to Opportunities | Ph.D. Computer Science Candidate (May 2025) | Specializing in Software Development, Network Protocols & Web Performance | Deep Technical Expertise, Persistence & Innovation
HTTP/2 was a huge leap forward with multiplexing and header compression, but HTTP/3 is taking over thanks to these improvements:
1. Faster Connection Establishment:
? HTTP/2 runs over TCP, which requires a multi-step handshake that adds latency.
? HTTP/3 uses QUIC (over UDP) with 0-RTT handshakes, reducing connection setup times dramatically.
2. Elimination of Head-of-Line Blocking:
? HTTP/2 suffers from head-of-line blocking—even with multiplexing, a delayed packet can stall other streams.
? HTTP/3 leverages QUIC’s independent streams, ensuring that delays in one stream don’t affect others.
3. Improved Resilience to Packet Loss:
? HTTP/2’s reliance on TCP means even minor packet loss can stall all traffic.
? HTTP/3 recovers more gracefully from packet loss, leading to smoother performance on unstable networks.
With these enhancements, HTTP/3 is rapidly becoming the preferred protocol for modern web applications—delivering faster, more reliable, and secure experiences.?