feat(http2): implement HTTP/2 informational responses support

Add support for HTTP/2 informational responses (1xx status codes) including
103 Early Hints. This enables servers to send preliminary headers before
the final response, improving client performance through early resource
discovery and connection establishment.

Changes include:
- extend client and server APIs to handle interim informational responses
- update stream state management for 1xx responses
- add test for interim informational response scenarios
- fix MSRV compatibility by updating hashbrown to 0.16.1 in CI.yml, and upgrading rustc to 1.65 in Cargo.toml

This implementation follows RFC 7540 and RFC 8297 specifications for
HTTP/2 informational responses handling.

Author: Apu Islam

.github/workflows/CI.yml

@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           cargo update --package tokio --precise 1.38.1
           cargo update --package tokio-util --precise 0.7.11
-          cargo update --package hashbrown --precise 0.15.0
+          cargo update --package indexmap --precise 2.6.0
+          cargo update --package hashbrown --precise 0.15.1
           cargo update --package once_cell --precise 1.20.3
-          cargo update --package tracing-core --precise 0.1.33
 
 
       - run: cargo check -p h2

Cargo.toml

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ keywords = ["http", "async", "non-blocking"]
 categories = ["asynchronous", "web-programming", "network-programming"]
 exclude = ["fixtures/**", "ci/**"]
 edition = "2021"
-rust-version = "1.63"
+rust-version = "1.65"
 
 [features]
 # Enables `futures::Stream` implementations for various types.

src/client.rs

@@ -1485,6 +1485,22 @@ impl ResponseFuture {
     pub fn stream_id(&self) -> crate::StreamId {
         crate::StreamId::from_internal(self.inner.stream_id())
     }
+
+    /// Polls for informational responses (1xx status codes).
+    ///
+    /// This method should be called before polling the main response future
+    /// to check for any informational responses that have been received.
+    ///
+    /// Returns `Poll::Ready(Some(response))` if an informational response is available,
+    /// `Poll::Ready(None)` if no more informational responses are expected,
+    /// or `Poll::Pending` if no informational response is currently available.
+    pub fn poll_informational(
+        &mut self,
+        cx: &mut Context<'_>,
+    ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Response<()>, crate::Error>>> {
+        self.inner.poll_informational(cx).map_err(Into::into)
+    }
+
     /// Returns a stream of PushPromises
     ///
     /// # Panics

src/codec/error.rs

@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ pub enum UserError {
 
     /// Tries to send push promise to peer who has disabled server push
     PeerDisabledServerPush,
+
+    /// Invalid status code for informational response (must be 1xx)
+    InvalidInformationalStatusCode,
 }
 
 // ===== impl SendError =====
@@ -97,6 +100,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for UserError {
             SendPingWhilePending => "send_ping before received previous pong",
             SendSettingsWhilePending => "sending SETTINGS before received previous ACK",
             PeerDisabledServerPush => "sending PUSH_PROMISE to peer who disabled server push",
+            InvalidInformationalStatusCode => "invalid informational status code",
         })
     }
 }

src/proto/streams/recv.rs

@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ pub(super) enum Event {
     Headers(peer::PollMessage),
     Data(Bytes),
     Trailers(HeaderMap),
+    InformationalHeaders(peer::PollMessage),
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -264,6 +265,21 @@ impl Recv {
                 // corresponding headers frame pushed to `stream.pending_recv`.
                 self.pending_accept.push(stream);
             }
+        } else {
+            // This is an informational response (1xx status code)
+            // Convert to response and store it for polling
+            let message = counts
+                .peer()
+                .convert_poll_message(pseudo, fields, stream_id)?;
+
+            tracing::debug!("Received informational response: {:?}", message);
+
+            // Push the informational response onto the stream's recv buffer
+            // with a special event type so it can be polled separately
+            stream
+                .pending_recv
+                .push_back(&mut self.buffer, Event::InformationalHeaders(message));
+            stream.notify_recv();
         }
 
         Ok(())
@@ -324,24 +340,63 @@ impl Recv {
     ) -> Poll<Result<Response<()>, proto::Error>> {
         use super::peer::PollMessage::*;
 
-        // If the buffer is not empty, then the first frame must be a HEADERS
-        // frame or the user violated the contract.
-        match stream.pending_recv.pop_front(&mut self.buffer) {
-            Some(Event::Headers(Client(response))) => Poll::Ready(Ok(response)),
-            Some(_) => panic!("poll_response called after response returned"),
-            None => {
-                if !stream.state.ensure_recv_open()? {
-                    proto_err!(stream: "poll_response: stream={:?} is not opened;",  stream.id);
-                    return Poll::Ready(Err(Error::library_reset(
-                        stream.id,
-                        Reason::PROTOCOL_ERROR,
-                    )));
+        // Skip over any interim informational headers to find the main response
+        loop {
+            match stream.pending_recv.pop_front(&mut self.buffer) {
+                Some(Event::Headers(Client(response))) => return Poll::Ready(Ok(response)),
+                Some(Event::InformationalHeaders(_)) => {
+                    // Skip interim informational headers - they should be consumed by poll_informational
+                    continue;
                 }
+                Some(_) => panic!("poll_response called after response returned"),
+                None => {
+                    if !stream.state.ensure_recv_open()? {
+                        proto_err!(stream: "poll_response: stream={:?} is not opened;",  stream.id);
+                        return Poll::Ready(Err(Error::library_reset(
+                            stream.id,
+                            Reason::PROTOCOL_ERROR,
+                        )));
+                    }
 
-                stream.recv_task = Some(cx.waker().clone());
-                Poll::Pending
+                    stream.recv_task = Some(cx.waker().clone());
+                    return Poll::Pending;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Called by the client to get informational responses (1xx status codes)
+    pub fn poll_informational(
+        &mut self,
+        cx: &Context,
+        stream: &mut store::Ptr,
+    ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Response<()>, proto::Error>>> {
+        use super::peer::PollMessage::*;
+
+        // Try to pop the front event and check if it's an informational response
+        // If it's not, we put it back
+        if let Some(event) = stream.pending_recv.pop_front(&mut self.buffer) {
+            match event {
+                Event::InformationalHeaders(Client(response)) => {
+                    // Found an informational response, return it
+                    return Poll::Ready(Some(Ok(response)));
+                }
+                other => {
+                    // Not an informational response, put it back at the front
+                    stream.pending_recv.push_front(&mut self.buffer, other);
+                }
             }
         }
+
+        // No informational response available at the front
+        if stream.state.ensure_recv_open()? {
+            // Request to get notified once more frames arrive
+            stream.recv_task = Some(cx.waker().clone());
+            Poll::Pending
+        } else {
+            // No more frames will be received
+            Poll::Ready(None)
+        }
     }
 
     /// Transition the stream based on receiving trailers

src/proto/streams/send.rs

@@ -167,6 +167,47 @@ impl Send {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Send interim informational headers (1xx responses) without changing stream state.
+    /// This allows multiple interim informational responses to be sent before the final response.
+    pub fn send_interim_informational_headers<B>(
+        &mut self,
+        frame: frame::Headers,
+        buffer: &mut Buffer<Frame<B>>,
+        stream: &mut store::Ptr,
+        _counts: &mut Counts,
+        task: &mut Option<Waker>,
+    ) -> Result<(), UserError> {
+        tracing::trace!(
+            "send_informational_headers_direct; frame={:?}; stream_id={:?}",
+            frame,
+            frame.stream_id()
+        );
+
+        // Validate headers
+        Self::check_headers(frame.fields())?;
+
+        // Ensure this is an informational response (1xx status code)
+        if !frame.is_informational() {
+            tracing::debug!(
+                "send_informational_headers_direct called with non-informational frame"
+            );
+            return Err(UserError::UnexpectedFrameType);
+        }
+
+        // Ensure the frame is not marked as end_stream for informational responses
+        if frame.is_end_stream() {
+            tracing::debug!("send_informational_headers_direct called with end_stream=true");
+            return Err(UserError::UnexpectedFrameType);
+        }
+
+        // Queue the frame for sending WITHOUT changing stream state
+        // This is the key difference from send_headers - we don't call stream.state.send_open()
+        self.prioritize
+            .queue_frame(frame.into(), buffer, stream, task);
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     /// Send an explicit RST_STREAM frame
     pub fn send_reset<B>(
         &mut self,

src/proto/streams/streams.rs

@@ -1150,6 +1150,42 @@ impl<B> StreamRef<B> {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn send_informational_headers(&mut self, frame: frame::Headers) -> Result<(), UserError> {
+        let mut me = self.opaque.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        let me = &mut *me;
+
+        let stream = me.store.resolve(self.opaque.key);
+        let actions = &mut me.actions;
+        let mut send_buffer = self.send_buffer.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        let send_buffer = &mut *send_buffer;
+
+        me.counts.transition(stream, |counts, stream| {
+            // For informational responses (1xx), we need to send headers without
+            // changing the stream state. This allows multiple informational responses
+            // to be sent before the final response.
+
+            // Validate that this is actually an informational response
+            if !frame.is_informational() {
+                return Err(UserError::UnexpectedFrameType);
+            }
+
+            // Ensure the frame is not marked as end_stream for informational responses
+            if frame.is_end_stream() {
+                return Err(UserError::UnexpectedFrameType);
+            }
+
+            // Send the interim informational headers directly to the buffer without state changes
+            // This bypasses the normal send_headers flow that would transition the stream state
+            actions.send.send_interim_informational_headers(
+                frame,
+                send_buffer,
+                stream,
+                counts,
+                &mut actions.task,
+            )
+        })
+    }
+
     pub fn send_response(
         &mut self,
         mut response: Response<()>,
@@ -1334,6 +1370,19 @@ impl OpaqueStreamRef {
 
         me.actions.recv.poll_response(cx, &mut stream)
     }
+
+    /// Called by a client to check for informational responses (1xx status codes)
+    pub fn poll_informational(
+        &mut self,
+        cx: &Context,
+    ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Response<()>, proto::Error>>> {
+        let mut me = self.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        let me = &mut *me;
+
+        let mut stream = me.store.resolve(self.key);
+
+        me.actions.recv.poll_informational(cx, &mut stream)
+    }
     /// Called by a client to check for a pushed request.
     pub fn poll_pushed(
         &mut self,

src/server.rs

@@ -1102,6 +1102,105 @@ impl Default for Builder {
 // ===== impl SendResponse =====
 
 impl<B: Buf> SendResponse<B> {
+    /// Send an interim informational response (1xx status codes)
+    ///
+    /// This method can be called multiple times before calling `send_response()`
+    /// to send the final response. Only 1xx status codes are allowed.
+    ///
+    /// Interim informational responses are used to provide early feedback to the client
+    /// before the final response is ready. Common examples include:
+    /// - 100 Continue: Indicates the client should continue with the request
+    /// - 103 Early Hints: Provides early hints about resources to preload
+    ///
+    /// # Arguments
+    /// * `response` - HTTP response with 1xx status code and headers
+    ///
+    /// # Returns
+    /// * `Ok(())` - Interim Informational response sent successfully
+    /// * `Err(Error)` - Failed to send (invalid status code, connection error, etc.)
+    ///
+    /// # Examples
+    /// ```rust
+    /// use h2::server;
+    /// use http::{Response, StatusCode};
+    ///
+    /// # async fn example(mut send_response: h2::server::SendResponse<bytes::Bytes>) -> Result<(), h2::Error> {
+    /// // Send 100 Continue before processing request body
+    /// let continue_response = Response::builder()
+    ///     .status(StatusCode::CONTINUE)
+    ///     .body(())
+    ///     .unwrap();
+    /// send_response.send_informational(continue_response)?;
+    ///
+    /// // Later send the final response
+    /// let final_response = Response::builder()
+    ///     .status(StatusCode::OK)
+    ///     .body(())
+    ///     .unwrap();
+    /// let _stream = send_response.send_response(final_response, false)?;
+    /// # Ok(())
+    /// # }
+    /// ```
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    /// This method will return an error if:
+    /// - The response status code is not in the 1xx range
+    /// - The final response has already been sent
+    /// - There is a connection-level error
+    pub fn send_informational(&mut self, response: Response<()>) -> Result<(), crate::Error> {
+        let stream_id = self.inner.stream_id();
+        let status = response.status();
+
+        tracing::debug!(
+            "h2::send_informational called with status: {} on stream: {:?}",
+            status,
+            stream_id
+        );
+
+        // Validate that this is an informational response (1xx status code)
+        if !response.status().is_informational() {
+            tracing::debug!(
+                "h2::invalid informational status code: {} on stream: {:?}",
+                status,
+                stream_id
+            );
+            // Return an error for invalid status codes
+            return Err(crate::Error::from(
+                UserError::InvalidInformationalStatusCode,
+            ));
+        }
+
+        tracing::trace!(
+            "h2::converting informational response to HEADERS frame for stream: {:?}",
+            stream_id
+        );
+
+        // Convert the response to a HEADERS frame without END_STREAM flag
+        // Use the proper Peer::convert_send_message method for informational responses
+        let frame = Peer::convert_send_message(
+            stream_id, response, false, // NOT end_of_stream for informational responses
+        );
+
+        tracing::trace!(
+            "h2::sending interim informational headers frame for stream: {:?}",
+            stream_id
+        );
+
+        // Use the proper H2 streams API for sending interim informational headers
+        // This bypasses the normal response flow and allows multiple informational responses
+        let result = self
+            .inner
+            .send_informational_headers(frame)
+            .map_err(Into::into);
+
+        match &result {
+            Ok(()) => tracing::debug!("h2::Successfully sent informational headers"),
+            Err(e) => tracing::debug!("h2::Failed to send informational headers: {:?}", e),
+        }
+
+        result
+    }
+
     /// Send a response to a client request.
     ///
     /// On success, a [`SendStream`] instance is returned. This instance can be