Can you describe the main stages of processing an HTTP request in a server application?

Main stages of processing an HTTP request in a server application:

1. Receiving the request — the server receives an HTTP request from the client via a network socket.
2. Parsing the request — analyzing the request line, headers, and body to understand what is specifically requested.
3. Routing — determining which handler or controller should process the request based on the URL and method.
4. Processing the request — executing business logic, interacting with the database, performing calculations.
5. Forming the response — creating an HTTP response with the appropriate status, headers, and body.
6. Sending the response — transmitting the formed response to the client.
7. Logging and cleanup — recording information about the request and freeing resources.

Example in Python using Flask:

from flask import Flask, request, jsonify
app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/hello', methods=['GET'])
def hello():
    name = request.args.get('name', 'World')
    return jsonify({'message': f'Hello, {name}!'})

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run()