# Gopher/Gemini/WWW Comparison Table

February 10, 2023 · 2 minute read
      
Posted in:  gemini gopher internet www 

      
This list is necessarily incomplete, partly due to the complexity of
modern HTTP and HTML, but it hits the high points. If you think
there is something critical missing, please contact me by email.

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<table>
  <tr>
    <th>
            Feature
    </th>
    <th >
            Gopher
    </th>
    <th >
            Gemini
    </th>
    <th >
            WWW
    </th>
  </tr>

  <tr>
    <td >
            Can      transfer      text-based      documents      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes     
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
<td >
            Can      transfer      binary      media      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Has      a      hypermedia      document      format      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      [1]      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Hypermedia      format      can      inline      
            binary      media      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      [2]      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Protocol      responses      include      error      
            codes      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Protocol      responses      include      content
            type      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Protocol      responses      include      content
            length      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Supports      connection      re-use      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Requests      and      responses      are      
            extensible      with      headers      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Uses      transport-layer      encryption      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      [3]      
    </td>
    <td >
            Required      
    </td>
    <td >
            Optional      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Uses      URLs      for      links      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      [4]      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td >
            Supports      streaming      
    </td>
    <td >
            No      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      [5]      
    </td>
    <td >
            Yes      
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>
<br>

-   [1] Gopher supports a text file format with links for defining
    submenus. It wasn't intended to be used as a hypermedia document
    format, but it is somewhat usable as one.
-   [2] Some Gemini clients support displaying images or audio/video
    files inline after their links, once the link is clicked or hovered
    over.
-   [3] Some gopher clients and some gopher servers support wrapping
    the protocol in TLS. There is no standard for this, however.
-   [4] It is possible (and conventional) to use URL formatted
    selectors in Gopher H-type menu items. This is not well-supported
    by all clients. Also, some clients will linkify URLs in text
    documents.
-   [5] Gemini responses are not complete until the connection is
    closed with a TLS close_notify message. Clients are allowed to start
    processing a response before it is closed, allowing streaming of
    media. Gemini does not have an equivalent of HLS (HTTP Live
    Streaming), however, which means streams can't be offered in
    multiple bitrates except with separate links, and seeking on
    streams is likely to be unreliable.