What exactly is the status of http2 server push in 2021?

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I am confused with the current status of http2 server push. When I google "http 2 server push" there are many search results, among them 2 results stand out,

  1. Chrome to remove HTTP/2 Push published in 2020-12-01
  2. HTTP/2 Push is dead published in 2020-11-12

Both of them mentioned Chrome has remove server push, but other than these 2 articles there are still many articles published in 2021 introducing/explaining http2 server push.

So what exactly is the status of http2 server push as 2022 is coming ?

I am not asking an opinion-based question but a fact-based assessment. If Chrome does kills it I think it is pretty much a fact that it is dead.

--- update ---

I came across this article https://developer.chrome.com/blog/early-hints/ (published June 23, 2022). So it seems that the proposed 103 Early Hints is their answer to unsuccessful http2 server push.

http2
1 Answers

As a web site option it is pretty much dead. As well as Chrome’s stated position (which has not changed but also not been actioned… yet) there is a new consideration which will likely kill it off first: HTTP/3.

HTTP/3 is already supported by 12% of websites and 20% of web traffic despite not even officially being signed off yet (though it’s as near as can be).

Chrome has not implemented push on HTTP/3 (and seem highlighlyunlikely to given their stated position to drop it for HTTP/2) and because of that neither has Cloudflare (one of the leading CDNs working on HTTP/3 and powering 10% of the internet). I’m not sure of other’s position on this but with those two out that’s a big chunk of support.

Some sites will always languish on HTTP/1.1 (without push), those that adopted HTTP/2 quickly and completely enough to use push willl likely move to HTTP/3 (especially if behind a CDN like Cloudflare) so there really is very little that’ll be left behind on HTTP/2 to be able to use push. So what little usage there is of HTTP/2 push (~1.25% of sites) will dwindle anyway until it’s a negligible amount (if it isn’t already!).

Push is dead for web browsing. Though more recently there has been a big push (pardon the pun!) by browsers and CDNs to support 103 Early Hints - a much safer, less risky option that can deliver many of the same benefits as push.

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