Security · Website glossary

HTTPS

Quick answer · What is HTTPS?

HTTP communicated over an encrypted TLS connection that protects transport between participating endpoints.

IN PRACTICE

HTTPS: an example

A browser opens a site with an https URL and validates the server's certificate.

KEEP IN MIND

HTTPS protects the connection; it does not establish that a seller is honest or that all application code is secure.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of HTTPS?

A browser opens a site with an https URL and validates the server's certificate.

Does HTTPS prove a seller is honest or its application is secure?

HTTPS protects the connection; it does not establish that a seller is honest or that all application code is secure.

Which concepts should I read alongside HTTPS?

TLS: Transport Layer Security is a protocol that provides encryption, integrity protection, and authentication for network connections.
TLS certificate: A signed digital document that associates an identity, such as domain names, with a public key used in TLS authentication.