What is HTTPS and why do I need it?

HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, an encrypted version of HTTP. It is used for data transmission over a network and serves as a kind of “language” between servers and clients in a network. HTTP and HTTPS are primarily used on the internet for communication between web servers and computers. Both protocols are necessary to ensure that computers connected within a network can communicate in a unified language and interpret commands clearly. Unlike HTTP, HTTPS encrypts this communication.

When accessing a website, HTTPS is used to secure the connection. There are two types of messages involved: Requests (sent from the web browser to the server) and Responses (sent from the server back to the browser). For instance, when a website is accessed, the web browser sends a request to the server to retrieve a specific file, like “www.yourdomain.com/index.html“. This is where the difference between HTTP and HTTPS comes into play: while HTTP transmits all messages openly and visible to anyone, HTTPS first establishes a secret key between the server and the web browser. This key ensures that only the server and the browser can view the transmitted messages, as they are encrypted using the key they created.

HTTPS is used whenever a secure data connection between a browser and a server is necessary, especially when the user needs to enter personal information. Online banking is a typical example where HTTPS is employed to secure user data.

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For more information on HTTPS and why it is needed, you can find additional details here.