A single web request powers every interaction on your website, from loading a page to submitting a form. But what happens when that request fails? At Site Qwality, we monitor your website’s performance to ensure your users have a seamless experience. In this guide, we’ll break down the journey of a web request through DNS, TCP, TLS, and HTTP, spotlighting where things can go wrong and how proactive monitoring can keep your site running smoothly.
Every time a user visits your website, their browser sends a request to your server. This request travels through several layers, each with its own role—and potential for failure. Let’s trace the path.
The first step is translating your website’s domain (e.g., www.siteqwality.com) into an IP address. This is handled by the Domain Name System (DNS). The user’s device queries a DNS resolver, which contacts authoritative DNS servers to retrieve the correct IP.
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Once the IP address is found, the browser initiates a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection to the server. TCP ensures reliable data transfer by establishing a “handshake” between the client and server.
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For websites using HTTPS (which should be all of them!), the next step is the Transport Layer Security (TLS) handshake. This encrypts the connection, ensuring data privacy and integrity.
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Finally, the browser sends an HTTP request to the server, which responds with the requested content (e.g., HTML, images). This stage involves the web server, application logic, and often a database.
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A single failure in DNS, TCP, TLS, or HTTP can render your website inaccessible or slow, driving users away. According to Gartner, even a few minutes of downtime can cost businesses thousands in lost revenue. For SaaS companies like yours, reliability is critical to retaining customers and building trust.
Site Qwality’s website monitoring service tracks every layer of the web request process, from DNS resolution to HTTP responses. Our alerts and detailed reports help you identify and fix issues before they escalate, ensuring your site stays fast, secure, and reliable.
Don’t let web request failures harm your business. With Site Qwality, you get comprehensive website monitoring that covers DNS, TCP, TLS, and HTTP, empowering you to deliver a flawless user experience. Sign up today at Site Qwality and start optimizing your website’s performance.