{"id":24897,"date":"2022-07-05T15:48:58","date_gmt":"2022-07-05T22:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/?p=24897"},"modified":"2024-01-18T16:25:05","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T23:25:05","slug":"what-does-https-in-a-web-address-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vdigitalservices.com\/what-does-https-in-a-web-address-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"What does \u201cHTTPS\u201d in a web address mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve spent time browsing the web lately, you’ve likely noticed that many websites have a URL beginning with “HTTPS” – where they used to say “HTTP.” And odds are, you haven’t given much thought to the HTTP vs. HTTPS meaning. But if you’re a business owner with your website, now’s the time to learn exactly why this topic matters.<\/span><\/p>\n

We’re doing a deep dive into the technical side of the Internet, taking a closer look at the definition of HTTPS, how it differs from HTTP, and why choosing one or the other is an important choice for website owners. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be well-versed in online lingo – and be ready to make the move from HTTP to HTTPS.<\/span><\/p>\n

HTTP and HTTPS: How They Function in the WWW<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Both HTTP and HTTPS serve as the virtual backbone of the Internet. They are the technical protocols used to process, render, and, most importantly, deliver web pages to your browser. In other words, they are what turns a web page from coded content to something you can see, browse, and interact with online.<\/span><\/p>\n

HTTP and HTTPS work via “requests,” submitted by your browser when you interact with a website. Without these requests, the Internet as you know it simply wouldn’t exist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"VDS-Blog-HTTPS-1\"<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What is HTTP?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before we can define HTTPS, we have to explain what HTTP means.<\/span><\/p>\n

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is the primary method for web page data to be transferred from servers to your browser. When you visit a web page, you’ll often see “HTTP” as the first four letters in its URL (that is, unless it says “HTTPS”). These connections and transfers create a massive network, the World Wide Web or the Internet.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, why not stick with the basics and use HTTP for all webpages? There’s one major challenge with HTTP: because the data transferred via HTTP is not encrypted, there’s always a risk that cybercriminals will access and steal the information. There’s no privacy in the connection, making it dangerous to use an HTTP for any sensitive data – such as entering your credit card number when shopping online.<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years, cybercrime has reached an all-time high, and many people are increasingly aware of how important it is to protect their sensitive data. And thus, HTTPS was born.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does HTTPS Mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

So, what does “HTTPS” stand for? The HTTPS meaning is similar to that of HTTP, with the “S” representing a very important addition. “HTTPS” stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (often referred to as secure hypertext transfer protocol).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It functions differently than HTTP, establishing a private, secure connection that protects sensitive data.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does HTTPS Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The main difference between HTTPS and HTTP is that one provides a secure connection while the other doesn’t.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

HTTPS utilizes a secure certificate from a third-party vendor to establish a safe connection, and a website can be verified as legitimate. This certificate used to be called a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) but is now known as Transport Layer Security (TLS).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Essentially, HTTPS is HTTP encrypted for security purposes.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The SSL\/TLS creates an encrypted connection between your browser and the web page server so that any communication between the two is completely secure and protected. Ultimately preventing cybercriminals from potentially accessing and stealing the information. With HTTP, anyone can “eavesdrop” on the communications, so HTTP is not secure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s how it works:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You type a web address into your browser or click on a link for a webpage, which then sends a request to the webserver.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. If it is an HTTPS website, the server that hosts the web page sends a public “key” and its TLS or SSL to your browser.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Your browser verifies the authenticity of the TLS\/SSL, making sure it is valid, up-to-date, and provided by a trusted third party.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Your browser then creates a symmetric key to send to the server, which is encrypted.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. The server decrypts the key using a private key.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Then, the webpage is sent from the server to your browser in an encrypted format.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Your browser uses the symmetric key to decrypt the webpage, and you see the displayed content.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Mere milliseconds is all it takes every time you navigate to and around an HTTPS web page. And most of the time, you won’t even notice that you’re using an HTTPS web page at all – but your information and activity will be secure.<\/span><\/p>\n

    An HTTPS webpage might be used for:<\/span><\/p>\n