Node.js http2session.close() Method

Last Updated : 17 Aug, 2026

The http2session.close() method in Node.js is used to gracefully close an HTTP/2 session. It allows the session to finish processing existing streams before the connection is closed.

  • It initiates a graceful shutdown of the HTTP/2 session.
  • It allows existing streams to complete before closing the session.
  • It can be used for both client and server HTTP/2 sessions.

Syntax:

http2session.close(callback)

Where,

  • http2session: An instance of the ClientHttp2Session or ServerHttp2Session class.
  • close(): A method that initiates the graceful closing of the HTTP/2 session.
  • callback: An optional function that is called when the session is closed.

Return Value: The method returns the http2session object. 

Example 1:

javascript 
const http2 = require('http2');
const fs = require('fs');

// Private key and public certificate for access
const options = {
  key: fs.readFileSync('private-key.pem'),
  cert: fs.readFileSync('public-cert.pem'),
};

// Creating and initializing server
// by using http2.createServer() method
const server = http2.createServer(options);

server.on('stream', (stream, requestHeaders) => {
   stream.respond({ 
      ':status': 200, 
      'content-type': 'text/plain' 
   });

   stream.write('hello ');

   // Getting session object
   // by using session method
   const http2session = stream.session;

   // Getting alpnProtocol of this session
   // by using alpnProtocol method
   const alpnProtocol = http2session.alpnProtocol;

   stream.end("session protocol : " + alpnProtocol);

   http2session.close(() => {
     console.log("session is closed");
   })

   // Stopping the server
   // by using the close() method
   server.close(() => {
     console.log("server destroyed");
   })
});

server.listen(8000);

// Creating and initializing client
// by using tls.connect() method
const client = http2
   .connect('http://localhost:8000');

const req = client.request({ 
   ':method': 'GET', ':path': '/' 
});

req.on('response', (responseHeaders) => {
  console.log("status : " 
    + responseHeaders[":status"]);
});

req.on('data', (data) => {
  console.log('Received: %s ',
  data.toString().replace(/(\n)/gm, ""));
});

req.on('end', () => {
  client.close(() => {
    console.log("client destroyed");
  })
});

Output:

server destroyed
session is closed
status : 200
Received: hello
Received: session protocol : h2c

Example 2:

javascript 
const http2 = require('http2');
const fs = require('fs');

// Private key and public certificate for access
const options = {
  key: fs.readFileSync('private-key.pem'),
  cert: fs.readFileSync('public-cert.pem'),
};

// Creating and initializing server
// by using http2.createServer() method
const server = http2.createServer(options);

server.on('stream', (stream, requestHeaders) => {

   // Getting session object
   // by using session method
   const http2session = stream.session;

   // Getting alpnProtocol of this session
   // by using alpnProtocol method
   const alpnProtocol = http2session.alpnProtocol;

   stream.end("session protocol : " + alpnProtocol);

   http2session.close(() => {
     console.log("session is closed");
   })

   // Stopping the server
   // by using the close() method
   server.close(() => {
     console.log("server destroyed");
   })
});

server.listen(8000);

// Creating and initializing client
// by using tls.connect() method
const client = http2
  .connect('http://localhost:8000');

const req = client.request({ 
  ':method': 'GET', ':path': '/' 
});

req.on('data', (data) => {
  console.log('Received: %s ',
  data.toString().replace(/(\n)/gm, ""));
});

req.on('end', () => {
  client.close(() => {
    console.log("client destroyed");
  })
});

Output:

Received: session protocol : h2c
client destroyed
server destroyed

Reference: https://nodejs.org/dist/latest-v12.x/docs/api/http2.html#http2_http2session_close_callback

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