Description
I'm trying to understand the core differences between HTTP and HTTPS. While I know both are protocols for transferring data over the internet, I'm unsure why HTTPS is considered more secure and when exactly it should be used. I'd like a clear breakdown of the technical differences, practical implications, and when one should be preferred over the other.
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is a protocol used for transferring data over the web. HTTPS (HTTP Secure) is the secure version of HTTP, which uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect the data transmitted between the client and server. The main differences are: Security: HTTPS encrypts data, HTTP does not. Port: HTTP uses port 80, HTTPS uses port 443. Trust: HTTPS provides authentication via SSL certificates, helping users verify the legitimacy of websites. SEO: Search engines tend to rank HTTPS sites higher than HTTP ones.