What is the Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS?

The main difference between HTTP and HTTPS lies in the security features they offer. Here are the key differences between the two protocols:

• Encryption: HTTP messages are sent in plaintext, which means unauthorized parties can easily access and read them over the internet. In contrast, HTTPS transmits all data in encrypted form, ensuring that no third parties can intercept the data over the network.
• Ports: HTTP uses port number 80 for communication, while HTTPS uses port number 443.
• SSL Certificates: HTTPS requires SSL certificates for public-key encryption, which helps to secure the communication between the browser and the server. HTTP does not require any certificates.
• Security: HTTP is considered unsecure, as it does not use encryption and can be easily intercepted. HTTPS is considered secure, as it uses encryption to protect information as it is being sent.
• Search Ranking: HTTPS helps to improve search ranking, while HTTP does not have any impact on search ranking.

In summary, HTTPS is a more secure version of the HTTP protocol, as it uses encryption and digital certificates to protect the data transmitted between a user's browser and a website. This makes HTTPS the preferred choice for modern websites, especially those that require the transmission of sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.

Comparative Table: HTTP vs HTTPS

Here is a table comparing the differences between HTTP and HTTPS:

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is a protocol used for transferring data over the internet, operating at the application layer and using port 80 for communication. It is unsecured, meaning that data transmitted through HTTP can be intercepted and read by third parties.

On the other hand, HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure version of HTTP that uses SSL/TLS encryption to secure the connection between the client and server. This encryption ensures that data transmitted between the client and server is encrypted and cannot be intercepted by third parties. HTTPS operates at the transport layer and uses port 443 for communication. It requires an SSL certificate, which is signed by a Certificate Authority (CA).

In summary, HTTPS is a more secure version of HTTP, providing encrypted communication between the client and server, while HTTP is unsecured and operates at a higher layer in the protocol stack.