HTTP vs communications protocol

HTTP and communications protocol both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
HTTP	Yes	No	No	No
communications protocol	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, communications protocol is a hypernym of HTTP; that is, communications protocol is a word with a broader meaning than HTTP:

HTTP: a protocol (utilizing TCP) to transfer hypertext requests and information between servers and browsers
communications protocol: (computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data

Other hypernyms of HTTP include protocol.

HTTP (noun)	communications protocol (noun)
a protocol (utilizing TCP) to transfer hypertext requests and information between servers and browsers	(computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data