I guess this is something similar to an HTTP-handler isn't it?

Yes something similar. HTTP-Handler has an advantage, that old applications, knowing nothing about networking, can access files via HTTP without any changes, while http.stream has to be used explicitly. On the other hand http.stream gives an application more control over fetching (editable fields in request header, access to parsed response header, proxy control, possibility to break at any time etc.).

[ Edited by Krashan on 2006/3/31 8:59 ]