HTTPS
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
The communication protocol for securely transferring data over the internet
In Simple Terms
HTTPS is a system that encrypts your connection to a website, allowing you to send and receive data securely over the internet. For example, when you enter your credit card number while shopping online, or type your password to log into a social media account, HTTPS keeps that information safe from being intercepted by malicious actors. When the URL in your browser's address bar starts with "https://", that's a sign that encrypted communication is in use.
Behind the Name
HTTPS stands for "Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure." It takes HTTP — the protocol used to load web pages — and adds encryption to make the communication secure.
Take a Closer Look!
HTTPS is the protocol that enables secure communication between a website and your smartphone or computer over the internet.
It encrypts the contents of the communication to prevent eavesdropping, and also includes protection against data being altered in transit.
In the early days of the internet, HTTP — without the trailing "S" — was the common standard.
But because HTTP transmits data in plain text, anyone who intercepted the connection could read everything, including passwords, in full.
That's why HTTPS came into widespread use: it converts data into an unreadable string of characters before sending it.
HTTPS communication relies on an encryption technology called TLS.
Even if data is intercepted in transit, anyone without the decryption key sees only meaningless gibberish.
HTTPS also uses digital certificates to verify that the server you're communicating with is genuinely the intended destination.
HTTPS is used not only by online shops and internet banking services, but also by everyday blogs, news sites, and a wide range of other websites.
The reason we can use the internet while keeping our important data safe is because this technology is quietly working behind the scenes.