UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is specifically designed for transmitting hypertext documents between web clients and servers. It defines how requests and responses are formatted and exchanged over TCP connections. When users browse websites, most of the communication occurs through HTTP or its secure version HTTPS. Thus, the protocol mentioned in the stem refers to HTTP.

Option A:
Option A, file transfer protocol, is used mainly for transferring files between hosts and is known as FTP, not for standard web page delivery.

Option B:
Option B, simple mail transfer protocol, abbreviated SMTP, is used for sending emails and does not handle browser-to-web-server hypertext transfers.

Option C:
Option C is correct because HTTP is explicitly spelled out as Hypertext Transfer Protocol in networking references and is the cornerstone of the World Wide Web.

Option D:
Option D, post office protocol, or POP, is used by email clients to retrieve messages from mail servers and is unrelated to web page transmission.

A URL begins with a protocol specification that tells the browser how to communicate with the server (e.g., http, https, ftp). In the given example, “https” indicates Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure.

Option A:
This part is the domain name, which identifies the server/website, not the communication protocol.

Option B:
This option correctly points to “https” as the protocol component at the start of the URL.

Option C:
“/result” is the path to a specific resource on the server, not the protocol.

Option D:
“.ac.in” is part of the domain structure indicating an academic institution in India, but it does not specify the protocol.

HTTP defines the rules for communication between web browsers and web servers for requesting and delivering hypertext documents. The acronym officially expands to Hypertext Transfer Protocol, indicating its role in transferring hypertext resources. It is fundamental to web based ICT applications. Hence, the correct expansion is Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

Option A:
Option A is correct because standard networking references and exam syllabi identify HTTP as Hypertext Transfer Protocol. This phrase clearly mentions both hypertext and transfer, which are central to web interactions.

Option B:
Option B, Hyperlink Transmission Process, uses similar words but is not the recognised name and does not match official documentation.

Option C:
Option C, High Traffic Transport Protocol, suggests handling heavy traffic but has no standing as an internet standard acronym.

Option D:
Option D, Host Terminal Transfer Protocol, also sounds technical but is not the accepted expansion of HTTP in web technology.