What is the Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS ? – The Unknown Facts
HTTP and HTTPS both transfer data between browsers and servers, but HTTPS adds an encryption layer using TLS (Transport Layer Security). HTTPS protects data in transit, verifies site identity via SSL certificates, and is required by modern browsers for any site that handles passwords, payments or personal data.
When you type a URL in your browser, the letters at the start of the address tell you which protocol is used to load the page. HTTP and HTTPS are both protocols for transferring web data, but they work differently in one critical way: security.
Every website you visit uses one or the other. Understanding the difference helps you know when your data is safe and when it’s exposed.
What is HTTP?
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication on the web. It defines how requests and responses between browsers and web servers work. When your browser loads a webpage, it sends an HTTP request to the server asking for the page content, and the server responds with the HTML, images and other files.
HTTP has been in use since the early 1990s. It works on port 80 by default. The problem with HTTP is that all data transmitted over it is plaintext. Anyone positioned between your browser and the server, such as someone on the same Wi-Fi network or an ISP monitoring traffic, can read everything being transmitted.
This was acceptable for early websites that only served static informational content. It’s completely unacceptable for any modern site that handles login credentials, payment information, or personal data.
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS (HTTP Secure) is HTTP with encryption added via TLS (Transport Layer Security), the successor to the older SSL protocol. When a browser connects to an HTTPS site, the following happens in under 200 milliseconds:
- The browser requests the site’s SSL/TLS certificate
- The browser verifies the certificate was issued by a trusted Certificate Authority
- An encrypted connection is established using asymmetric cryptography
- All subsequent data transfers over that connection are encrypted
HTTPS uses port 443 by default. The padlock icon in your browser’s address bar indicates an active HTTPS connection. Clicking the padlock shows certificate details including who issued it and when it expires.
Sites like turgs.com use HTTPS to protect all data transmitted between the server and your browser, including any personal information you provide.
Key Differences Between HTTP and HTTPS
Here is a clear comparison of the two protocols:
- Encryption: HTTP transmits data as plaintext. HTTPS encrypts all data using TLS.
- Security: HTTP is vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdropping. HTTPS prevents both.
- Certificate: HTTPS requires an SSL/TLS certificate from a Certificate Authority. HTTP does not.
- Port: HTTP uses port 80. HTTPS uses port 443.
- Speed: HTTPS adds a small overhead for the TLS handshake. In practice, HTTPS is often as fast or faster than HTTP due to HTTP/2 support, which requires HTTPS.
- SEO: Google has used HTTPS as a ranking signal since 2014. HTTP sites rank lower than equivalent HTTPS sites.
- Browser warnings: Chrome, Firefox and Edge display “Not secure” warnings for HTTP sites. HTTPS sites show a padlock.
Why HTTPS Matters for Your Website
If you run a website, here is why you need HTTPS:
User trust: A “Not secure” warning in the browser address bar causes many users to leave immediately. Research from Google showed that the “Not secure” warning reduced form submissions on HTTP pages by up to 20%.
SEO ranking: Google confirmed HTTPS as a ranking factor in 2014 and has continued to increase its weight. All else being equal, the HTTPS version of a page will rank above the HTTP version.
Legal compliance: GDPR, PCI DSS and other regulations require encryption for sites that handle personal data or payment information. HTTP does not meet these requirements.
Browser support: HTTP/2 (the faster version of HTTP) and HTTP/3 both require HTTPS. Using HTTP means you’re stuck on the older, slower HTTP/1.1 protocol.
Free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt have made HTTPS essentially free for any website. Most hosting providers including cPanel-based hosts offer one-click SSL certificate installation.
Limitations to Know
Limitations
- HTTPS encrypts data in transit but doesn’t protect data once it reaches the server. Server-side security is a separate concern.
- SSL certificates expire (typically after 1 to 2 years). An expired certificate causes browsers to show security warnings to visitors. Set up auto-renewal via your hosting provider or Let’s Encrypt.
- A padlock icon means the connection is encrypted, but it doesn’t guarantee the site is trustworthy. Phishing sites can and do use HTTPS with valid certificates.
- Migrating from HTTP to HTTPS requires updating all internal links and setting up 301 redirects to avoid losing SEO value from existing backlinks.
- Mixed content issues occur when an HTTPS page loads HTTP resources (images, scripts, etc.). Modern browsers block mixed content by default which can break functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HTTPS completely secure?
HTTPS secures data in transit between the browser and the server. It doesn’t protect against all security threats. Malware on your device, server-side vulnerabilities, weak passwords, and social engineering attacks all bypass HTTPS protections. HTTPS is one layer of security, not a complete security solution.
Can I tell if a site is using HTTPS just by looking at the URL?
Yes. Look at the start of the URL in your browser’s address bar. If it begins with “https://” the site uses HTTPS. If it begins with “http://” it doesn’t. Modern browsers also show a padlock icon for HTTPS sites and a “Not secure” warning for HTTP sites.
Does HTTPS slow down my website?
The TLS handshake adds a small amount of latency (typically 20 to 100 milliseconds on the first connection). However, HTTPS enables HTTP/2, which is significantly faster than HTTP/1.1 for loading modern web pages with many resources. Most sites actually load faster after switching to HTTPS because they can use HTTP/2.
How do I get an SSL certificate for my website?
Most web hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt, which is a non-profit Certificate Authority. In cPanel-based hosting, look for the “Let’s Encrypt SSL” or “AutoSSL” option in the Security section. For custom or extended validation certificates, paid options from DigiCert, Comodo or GlobalSign are available.
What does “certificate expired” or “certificate invalid” mean in a browser?
SSL certificates have an expiration date (typically 1 or 2 years). When a certificate expires, the browser shows a security warning because it can’t verify the site’s identity. An “invalid certificate” warning may mean the certificate was issued for a different domain, the server is misconfigured, or the certificate chain is incomplete. Contact your hosting provider to renew or fix the certificate.
Is HTTP still used anywhere?
HTTP is still used for internal networks and development environments where encryption isn’t required. Some legacy systems, IoT devices and old applications still use HTTP. On the public web, over 95% of traffic is now HTTPS. Google Chrome marks all HTTP pages as “Not secure” regardless of content type.
