HTTP Graceful Shutdown | The Backend Engineering Show

In this episode, Hussein Nasser dives into why and how you should gracefully close HTTP connections to avoid surprises, block mischief and free up resources. He breaks down the classic HTTP/1.1 approach using the Connection header, then contrasts it with HTTP/2’s more modern GOAWAY frame, all while weighing their performance costs.

You’ll get a clear timeline—from “why shut down?” to “how it works in HTTP/2”—plus handy links to Chromium’s implementation, relevant issue trackers and a stack of backend-focused courses if you want to dig deeper. Perfect for anyone looking to polish their server shutdown game.

Watch on YouTube