If you've reached this post, it's because you're browsing the internet, and you've probably done so quite often. Having browsed the internet, you've likely noticed that URLs usually begin with the letters “HTTP” or “HTTPS”. But you probably have no idea what that means, or what the differences are between one and the other.
We may or may not know how much HTTP such as HTTPS are protocols And although we probably think not, it is really important to know about them, what they mean, how they differ, and how they work on the internet.
At first glance, the only difference between the two protocols might be a letter included at the end, but it is much more than that. It is very important to have at least a basic understanding of these protocols. For this reason, we have prepared for you a simple explanation of what the acronyms of both mean and some other details that may be useful to know.
What does HTTP stand for in computing? Evolution and operation
The acronym HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, which translates to Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Basically, its function is as described in its name: to be a protocol for transferring information between server and client. It is responsible for ensuring that the data reaches its destination correctly. It is considered a request-response protocol that is executed between the two agents mentioned.
Generally, The HTTP protocol does not store any information about the connections made. but once this is finished, the browsing data is lost.
Without a doubt, HTTP is the most widely used protocol on the internet. Since its inception Its development has evolved considerably having different versions to this day:
- HTTP / 0.9Initially, it didn't have a version number; this was added when a second version of the protocol was released to differentiate it from the other. It was a single-line protocol and didn't use headers, so the only files that could be transferred were HTML files.
- HTTP / 1.0This version had considerable advances by allowing the GET, HEAD and POST request methods.
- HTTP / 1.1: It was launched in 1997 and allows the client to make multiple requests simultaneously. It also allows the connection to be reused.
- HTTP / 2: While it does not modify the semantics of version 1.1, it includes several improvements over it, such as the ability for a server to respond to multiple requests at the same time.
Despite having evolved, version 1.1 is still the most widely used worldwide. Because although HTTP is a fairly vulnerable protocol, Previously, internet users did not need as much security to browse, because online shopping or banking operations were not carried out from the computer.
Differences between the HTTP and HTTPS protocols
The difference between these two protocols goes beyond simply adding a letter at the end. This letter, it should be clarified, adds the quality of "safe" to the protocol. Therefore, HTTPS is the acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.This letter “S” refers to an additional protocol called Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) which together with HTTP allow the transmission of encrypted information on the internet.
Use the protocol HTTPS It's the safest way to browse the internet. Since all the information we enter will be encrypted, this gives us the guarantee that the only ones who can access that information are the client and the server.
HTTPS is used in activities that involve the use of personal data. whether in banking transactions, emails, or any other site where passwords or any confidential information must be entered
The only disadvantage of the HTTPS protocol compared to HTTP The speed is lower because the secure connection requires encryption and decryption, which causes some slowness in the connection.
How can you tell if a website is using the secure HTTPS protocol?
Identifying whether a page is using the HTTPS protocol, thus providing us with connection security, is very simple. Simply by looking at the top left, right at the beginning of the URL, we can see whether the protocol used is HTTP or HTTPS.
If you see a box with a green padlock, it means the HTTPS protocol is working on that page and the connection is encrypted and secure. You can even view the website's certificate if you wish.
What does an SSL security certificate for a website consist of?
The acronym SSL comes from English Secure Sockets Layer, which stands for Secure Connection Layer. SSL is a security protocol that, as we mentioned, is used in conjunction with HTTP to form the secure information transfer protocol.
The SSL certificate It is used to authenticate the identity of a website. It is a document used to provide security to users browsing a website. in order to show them that it is real and that they can trust it and enter their personal data without any risk.
The fact of having a certificate SSL encrypts our data and therefore transmits it securely. Likewise, we will have the certainty that it is free from the reach of any unwanted agent, since only the browser and the server have access to it, caused by the use of mathematical algorithms and certain keys that can only be deciphered by these two agents.
Undoubtedly, This provides security guarantees to users who browse the web. This is good because it assures us that we are entering the correct site and also because we know that no one will be able to access our information.
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