Canonical Header

A canonical header is a standardized version of HTTP headers used to ensure consistency and reliability in web communication, especially in authentication and security protocols. It involves normalizing headers by converting them to lowercase, sorting them alphabetically, and removing unnecessary variations like extra spaces or inconsistent formatting. This standardization is essential for processes like cryptographic signing, where any discrepancies in header formatting could cause verification failures. Canonical headers also help in caching and resource identification by providing a uniform way to represent headers across systems.