HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the application-layer protocol used to exchange information between web clients and servers. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is HTTP protected by Transport Layer Security (TLS). TLS encrypts data in transit, helps verify the identity of the server, and detects unauthorized changes to transmitted data.
The main difference between HTTP and HTTPS is connection security: HTTP does not provide encryption or server authentication on its own, while HTTPS provides these protections through TLS. Modern public websites, applications, and APIs should use HTTPS by default.
What Is HTTP?
HTTP defines how a browser or another client requests resources and how a server responds. It is used to transfer web pages, images, API responses, and many other types of content.
HTTP is a stateless protocol: each request can be processed independently, although cookies and application sessions can preserve user state across requests.
A conventional HTTP connection does not encrypt the information being exchanged. If it crosses an untrusted network, an intermediary may be able to read or modify requests and responses. HTTP commonly uses TCP port 80, although other ports can be configured.
What Is HTTPS?
HTTPS uses the same HTTP request-and-response semantics while protecting the connection with TLS.
During connection establishment, the client validates the server’s TLS certificate and negotiates cryptographic parameters. Once the secure connection is established, application data is protected against passive eavesdropping and undetected modification in transit.
HTTPS commonly uses port 443. In HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 deployments, TLS generally runs over TCP.
HTTP/3 also uses HTTPS semantics, but carries HTTP over QUIC, a secure transport protocol built on UDP. In all of these cases, HTTP remains an application-layer protocol.
HTTP vs HTTPS: Key Differences
| Feature | HTTP | HTTPS |
|---|---|---|
| Data encryption | No built-in encryption | Encryption using TLS |
| Data integrity | No built-in protection | Integrity protection provided by TLS |
| Server authentication | Not provided by HTTP itself | Normally verified using a TLS certificate |
| Default port | 80 | 443 |
| Typical URL scheme | http:// |
https:// |
| Common deployment | Legacy systems and isolated environments | Public websites, e-commerce, APIs, and web applications |
| Browser treatment | May be labeled not secure | Treated as a secure connection when TLS validation succeeds |
How Does HTTPS Work?
HTTPS establishes a protected communication channel between a client and a server through the following process:
- Connection setup: The client contacts the web server or CDN endpoint.
- TLS handshake: The client and server negotiate security settings, and the client validates the certificate presented for the requested hostname.
- Protected communication: HTTP requests and responses are exchanged over the encrypted connection.
- Integrity checks: TLS helps detect unauthorized modification of transmitted data.
An HTTPS connection protects data in transit. It does not guarantee that a website is trustworthy, that its application has no vulnerabilities, or that the user’s device is secure. HTTPS is an essential security baseline, not a complete cybersecurity solution.
Why Is HTTPS Important for Businesses?
Protect Sensitive Information
HTTPS helps prevent credentials, personal information, and payment-related data from being exposed as they move between users and online services.
Provide a Secure Foundation for Websites and APIs
Modern browser features and integrations often require a secure context. HTTPS also gives users a clearer signal that their connection is protected.
Support Secure Content Delivery
When a content delivery network (CDN) handles HTTPS traffic, organizations should protect both the user-to-CDN connection and, where applicable, the CDN-to-origin connection.
Encryption on only one part of the path does not secure the entire delivery chain.
How to Migrate from HTTP to HTTPS
A typical HTTP-to-HTTPS migration includes these steps:
- Obtain and deploy a valid TLS certificate for the relevant hostnames.
- Configure secure HTTPS service on the website, application, and CDN endpoints as needed.
- Redirect HTTP URLs to their HTTPS equivalents using permanent server-side redirects.
- Update internal links, canonical URLs, sitemaps, and critical integrations to use HTTPS.
- Identify and resolve mixed content, such as scripts or images still loaded over HTTP.
- Test certificate validity, redirects, and end-to-end TLS behavior; evaluate HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) once the HTTPS configuration is reliable.
For organizations using a CDN, certificate management and the CDN-to-origin TLS connection deserve special attention.
See our guide to CDN SSL/TLS Security for additional context.
HTTP vs HTTPS: Frequently Asked Questions
Is HTTPS faster than HTTP?
Not inherently. TLS introduces security processing, while modern protocol features such as HTTP/2, HTTP/3, connection reuse, and CDN optimization can improve performance.
Actual speed depends on the protocol version, server setup, network conditions, and caching strategy.
Does HTTPS mean a website is completely safe?
No. HTTPS protects the connection, but a site can still contain malicious content or have application vulnerabilities.
Security also requires measures such as safe authentication, application protection, software updates, and monitoring.
What is the difference between HTTPS and SSL/TLS?
HTTPS is HTTP protected by TLS.
SSL is the outdated predecessor of TLS; people still commonly say “SSL certificate,” but modern secure websites use TLS.
Is HTTPS required for HTTP/3?
HTTP/3 is designed to run over QUIC, which integrates TLS 1.3. In ordinary web deployments, HTTP/3 is used for secure HTTPS connections.
