HTTP vs HTTPS: Differences, Pros, Cons and Which to Choose

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HTTP vs HTTPS: Differences, Pros, Cons and Which to Choose
If you’re thinking about switching to HTTPS but aren’t exactly sure how it will affect your website, this article will walk you through the process.

We will explain the difference between HTTP and HTTPS in terms of security, performance, and search engine optimization (SEO) benefits .

Additionally, we will see how HTTP HTTPS protocols transport data across the Internet and the significant role of SSL certificates .

Aside from that, we will also discuss the pros and colombia phone number data of each protocol to help you decide whether to make the switch.

Let's get started.

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Differences between HTTP vs HTTPS
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol . It is the protocol that allows communication between different systems, transferring information and data over a network.

On the other hand, HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure . Although it works similarly to HTTP, HTTPS is designed to secure communication between web servers and browsers while data is being transported.

HTTPS protects connections with a digital security protocol that uses cryptographic keys to encrypt and validate data. The most common way for websites to use HTTPS and have a secure domain is to obtain a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificate.

Please note that while TLS is largely becoming the standard for HTTPS, most SSL certificates support both SSL/TLS protocols.

How HTTP Works
In practice, HTTP is an application-layer protocol used by web browsers and web servers to communicate over the Internet.

How HTTP Servers Work
When a web user wants to load or interact with a web page, the web browser sends an HTTP request to the origin server that hosts the website files. These requests are essentially lines of text sent across the Internet.

A connection is then established between the browser and the server, after which the server processes the request and returns an HTTP response . This makes the web pages accessible to site visitors.

HTTP vs HTTPS: Which is better for my site?
Technically, there is no correct answer.

It all depends on the type of site and the data you manage. For example, a simple portfolio website and an e-commerce site with membership features and digital payment systems have different security requirements.

However, it doesn’t matter if your site handles sensitive information: HTTPS is becoming the standard for all websites. Not only that, there are numerous benefits to having an SSL certificate enabled on your site.

Consider the following factors when deciding between HTTP and HTTPS.

Safety
Having strong security measures and providing a secure browsing experience on your website is crucial. A GlobalSign survey found that 77% of visitors are concerned about unauthorized parties misusing or intercepting user data.

As for HTTP vs HTTPS, the latter outperforms in terms of security.

A standard HTTP protocol does not encrypt connections. This means that lines of text in an HTTP request or response are visible to anyone monitoring the connection, including hackers and cybercriminals.