Introduction
In this post, you will learn what is HTTP and HTTPS. You will also learn how they work. In addition, you will learn the difference between HTTP and HTTPS.
What are HTTP and HTTPS?
HTTP
HTTP Stands for Hypertext transfer protocol, HTTP is a layer 7 protocol that enables users computers to interact with a web server. While entering a site you could see a small lock symbol which means the site is encrypted. This means it is using HTTPS URL but if there is no lock symbol and shows not secure then it is HTTP URL.
Now we know HTTP URL is not safe and not encrypted. When you enter into an HTTP site, there is a high chance to get hacked. The HTTP is not secured so, the middle man can see who all are accessing the sites. And they could also see all the data’s in plain text. The middle man can see everything transparently, what are you doing on an HTTP site.
HTTP sites are not secure to browser and there is also an advantage in HTTP, that is HTTP websites load faster than HTTPS sites. HTTP is very fast because there is no encryption, so the site becomes light weight. Also, the default port for HTTP is 80.
Also Read: What is encryption and decryption?
HTTPS
HTTPS Stands for Hypertext transfer protocol secure. HTTP over TLS or SSL is called HTTPS. TLS stands for transport layer security and SSL stand for secured socket layer. These TLS and SSL encrypts and decrypts data so, there will not be less chance to get hacked. The SSL is the older version and the newer version is TLS but both the version are in use.
When you get an SSL or TLS certificate, they generally encrypt the data in users site. When you enable SSL or TLS, you could see a lock symbol on the left side of the domain name. If you enabled SSL or TLS, they change plain text to cipher text. Which looks something like this,
When it is changed to cipher text, no one could read it, until you break the cipher text using a key. Moreover it is not a real key. The is cryptographic key which ensures the data are secure and only if receiver have the key he can open the data.
When you see an SSL or TLS site, the above process will take place exactly. When a sender tries to send a data from plain text it gets encrypted and along with the encryption you also get a mathematical value attached with other wrong values. And while decrypting the data, randomly many values generate and when the correct value matches with the encrypted value then it is decrypted that means now you can read data in plain text.
Between the sender and the receiver the internet uses public network but if it is encrypted you are safer.
HTTPS is very slow compared to HTTP because of all the encryption. And HTTPS uses layer 4 transport layer protocol. The default port in HTTPS is 443.
Also Read: How encryption and decryption works?
Difference between HTTP and HTTPS – Exactly
| HTTP | HTTPS |
| HTTP stands for Hypertext transfer protocol | HTTPS stand for Hypertext transfer protocol secure |
| Data’s will be transferred in plain text | Data’s will de transferred in cipher text that is encrypted form |
| HTTP is insecure | HTTPS is secure |
| HTTP sites load faster | HTTPS sites load slower, compared to HTTP |
| It uses port 80 by default itself | It uses port 443 by default |
| No need for SSL or TLS certificate | Need SSL and TLS Certificate |
| HTTP sites are in high risk from hackers | HTTPS sites are in low risk from hackers |
| Layer 7 protocol is used | Layer 4 Protocol is used |
Conclusion
In conclusion, I recommend readers to visit only HTTPS site, suppose you wanted to access an HTTP site then use VPN.
Also Read: What is VPN? How VPN works!
