Overview
HTTP/2 is a major update to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the underlying communication protocol used to move data back and forth over the web. It’s the first major update to HTTP is nearly 15 years, and is rapidly seeing adoption growth and support in both browsers and web servers.
FAQs
Is HTTP/2 available on all hosting plans?
Yes. HTTP/2 is currently supported on all managed hosting platforms (Shared, DreamPress, VPS, and Dedicated).
What benefits does HTTP/2 provide?
HTTP/2 brings a number of new features to the table, including:
- A binary protocol, making it more compact to ship over the wire
- Fully multiplexed, parallel connections allow for faster, more efficient data transfer
- Server push functionality, which allows web designers to build sites that proactively send assets that are needed by a web page
Will my site be compatible with HTTP/2?
Yes! Browsers that support HTTP/2 will automatically use the newer protocol when connecting to an HTTP/2 webserver; browsers that don’t support HTTP/2 will seamlessly use HTTP/1.1, just as they currently do now. Websites won't display any differently over HTTP/2 than over HTTP/1.1, apart from potential performance increases and faster loading times.
Is my TLS certificate compatible over HTTP/2?
Yes. Your current Professionally-signed, Let’s Encrypt, or third-party TLS certificate will work out of the box over HTTP/2.
Can I use HTTP/2 for non-secured hosting domains?
At this time, only secured hosting domains with a TLS certificate support HTTP/2. This is largely due to the current browser implementation landscape; there are no browsers currently supporting HTTP/2 connections over cleartext.
HTTP/2 does not appear to be enabled for my site
This should only happen if you are on a VPS or Dedicated Server running an older operating system, or if you are running your own custom Apache installation. Contact support if you are uncertain.
Can I use HTTP/2 with Cloudflare?
Yes, Cloudflare supports HTTP/2. For more information, see the following Cloudflare article:
Is HTTP/2 server push available at DreamHost?
HTTP/2 server push is not available on DreamHost servers at this time.
Enabling HTTP/2
HTTP/2 is automatically added and configured for Shared, DreamPress, and Nginx servers—no further action is needed.
Confirming HTTP/2 is working
You can test your site on a website such as this: