Native HTTP client

Arguably the most important contemporary network communication protocol is HTTP and its secure HTTPS version. Every operating system typically has its own HTTP client functionality built-in. In the cross-platform world of Delphi programming, there is the HTTP native client library, which provides uniform access to HTTP client implementations available on different platforms.

Similar to other cross-platform libraries in Delphi, you can either work with HTTP entirely in code using the types defined in System.Net.HttpClient and System.Net.URLClient units, or you can rely on reusable components declared in the System.Net.HttpClientComponents unit that are available from the Tool Palette in the Net category:

Native HTTP client components in the Tool Palette

Let's give them a try and build a simple app that will allow us to enter the URL into an edit box, download data using the HTTP GET request, and display the result in the memo.

Create a new blank Delphi multi-device project...