HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) are two commonly used protocols for communication over the world wide web.HTTP is the standard protocol used for transferring data between web browsers and web servers, while HTTPS is a secure version of HTTP that provides an encrypted connection between web browsers and web servers.
At a high level, the main difference between HTTP and HTTPS is that HTTPS provides an encrypted layer of security on top of the standard HTTP protocol. HTTP communication is done in plain text and can be intercepted and read by anyone who is able to access the communication. HTTPS adds an additional layer of security by encrypting the data that is sent between the web browser and the web server. This ensures that the data is not readable by anyone who is able to access the communication.
In addition to providing an encryption layer, HTTPS also provides authentication. Authentication is a process that ensures that the data being sent is from an authorized source and not from someone who is trying to intercept and modify the data. This is done through the use of digital certificates and public key infrastructure (PKI). The digital certificates are issued by a certificate authority and are used to verify the identity of the web server. The public key infrastructure is used to encrypt and decrypt the data that is sent between the web browser and the web server.
Another important difference between HTTP and HTTPS is the way in which the data is transferred. HTTP uses a plain text protocol that does not provide any form of encryption, while HTTPS uses a secure layer of encryption to ensure that the data is secure. This encryption layer is provided by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security). SSL and TLS are encryption protocols that provide an extra layer of security over the standard HTTP protocol.
In addition to the encryption layer, HTTPS also provides data integrity. Data integrity is a process that ensures that the data that is sent between the web browser and the web server is not modified or corrupted during transmission. This is done through the use of digital signatures and message authentication codes. Digital signatures are used to verify the identity of the sender, while message authentication codes are used to ensure that the data has not been modified during transmission.
Overall, the main difference between HTTP and HTTPS is the level of security that is provided. HTTP is the standard protocol used for transferring data over the world wide web, while HTTPS provides an additional layer of security by encrypting the data that is sent between the web browser and the web server. This ensures that the data is secure and cannot be read or modified by anyone who is able to access the communication.
