https://github.com/xyurt/httplite
httplite — A minimal, single header, zero-copy, zero-allocation HTTP/1.1 parser in C and compatible with C89. Uses only pointer arithmetic and nothing else in only 50 lines.
https://github.com/xyurt/httplite
c c89 fast fastest http http1-1 https library microhttp most optimized parse parser single-header small smallest smallhttp tiny tinyhttp zero-allocation
Last synced: 3 months ago
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httplite — A minimal, single header, zero-copy, zero-allocation HTTP/1.1 parser in C and compatible with C89. Uses only pointer arithmetic and nothing else in only 50 lines.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/xyurt/httplite
- Owner: xyurt
- Created: 2025-07-12T22:02:35.000Z (3 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-07-12T22:21:15.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-07-13T00:18:34.609Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: c, c89, fast, fastest, http, http1-1, https, library, microhttp, most, optimized, parse, parser, single-header, small, smallest, smallhttp, tiny, tinyhttp, zero-allocation
- Language: C
- Homepage:
- Size: 27.3 KB
- Stars: 3
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
# httplite
A minimal and single-header HTTP/1.1 request line and header parser written in pure C.
## Overview
httplite is an ultra lightweight, zero-allocation HTTP/1.1 parser designed for blazing-fast parsing using only pointer arithmetic. It parses HTTP request or response lines and headers directly from the input buffer without copying data.
## LOC
The header file is exactly 50 lines in total...
## Usage Example
```C
#include "httplite.h"
#include
void main() {
const char *request = "GET /index.html HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: example.com\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n"; /* A typical http request */
size_t len = 66; /* Length of request without the null terminator */
http_message message; /* Http message structure */
if (http_parse_message(request, len, &message)) {
printf("Method: %.*s\n", (int)message.part1_length, message.part1);
printf("Path: %.*s\n", (int)message.part2_length, message.part2);
printf("Version: %.*s\n", (int)message.part3_length, message.part3);
const char *name, *value;
size_t name_len, value_len;
printf("Headers:\n");
while (http_next_header(&message, &name, &name_len, &value, &value_len)) {
if (name == NULL || name_len == 0) break;
printf(" %.*s: %.*s\n", (int)name_len, name, (int)value_len, value);
}
if (message.next_length != 0) {
printf("Body:\n%.*s\n", (int)message.next_length, message.next);
}
}
else {
printf("Failed to parse HTTP message\n");
}
}
```
## How It Works
- Parses HTTP/1.x request or response line (method, path, version).
- Iterates over headers with zero-copy pointer arithmetic like a stream.
- No dependencies, dynamic memory allocation or even the standart library.
## API
- int http_parse_message(const char *buffer, size_t buffer_size, http_message *out);
Parses the start line and initializes the message for header parsing.
- int http_next_header(http_message *message, const char **name, size_t *name_length, const char **value, size_t *value_length);
Iterates headers one by one; returns 1 while headers remain, 0 at end or error.
## Performance Notes
- Zero-copy parsing ensures minimal CPU and memory overhead.
- Suitable for high-throughput or embedded environments.
## Limitations
- Supports HTTP/1.x request line, response line and headers only.
- Expects CRLF (\r\n) line endings.
- Does not validate message bodies or headers, just does its primary job which is parsing.
- No support for multiline headers or chunked encoding.
## License
MIT License
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Minimal, blazing-fast HTTP/1.1 parsing using only pointer arithmetic for zero-copy efficiency.