HTTP Graceful Shutdown | The Backend Engineering Show

Ever wondered how servers can politely tell clients to wrap up? In this episode, Hussein Nasser explores why you might need to close HTTP connections gracefully—whether it’s to ward off bad actors, free up resources, or just keep things tidy. You’ll get the lowdown on how HTTP/1.1 uses the Connection header to signal a shutdown and why that matters for both sides.

Then he switches gears to HTTP/2, explaining the GOAWAY frame, its cost implications, and how it lets clients finish pending requests before dropping the line. By the end, you’ll know the ins and outs of cleanup procedures that keep your backend running smooth and your users happy.

Watch on YouTube