Understanding HTTP and HTTPS: Key Differences

What Is HTTP?

HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the protocol used for communication between a web browser (client) and a web server.

It defines how:

Requests are sent (from browser to server)
Responses are returned (from server to browser)
Data like HTML, CSS, images, and JSON are transferred

Key Characteristics of http

Stateless protocol
Works on a request–response model
Uses plain text (not encrypted)
Default port: 80

Brief History of HTTP

HTTP/0.9 (1991)

Created by Tim Berners-Lee
Extremely simple
Only supported GET
Returned plain HTML only

HTTP/1.0 (1996)

Added headers
Supported different content types
Allowed status codes

HTTP/1.1 (1997)

Persistent connections
Chunked transfer encoding
Host headers (multiple sites on one server)
Still widely used today

HTTP/2 (2015)

Binary protocol
Multiplexing
Header compression
Faster loading times

HTTP/3 (2022)

Built on QUIC
Uses UDP instead of TCP
Better performance on unstable networks

How HTTP Works (Simple Flow)

Browser sends an HTTP request
Server processes the request
Server sends an HTTP response
Browser renders the content

Example HTTP Request

GET /index.html HTTP/1.1

Host: example.com

Example HTTP Response

HTTP/1.1 200 OK

Content-Type: text/html

What Is HTTPS?

HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP.

It uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect data exchanged between the browser and the server.

Key Characteristics of HTTPS

Encrypted communication
Data integrity protection
Authentication using certificates
Default port: 443

Why HTTPS Was Introduced

As the web evolved, HTTP became unsafe for:

Login forms
Payment systems
Personal data
APIs

Attackers could:

Read data (sniffing)
Modify data (man-in-the-middle)
Steal credentials

HTTPS solved these problems.

How HTTPS Works

Browser requests a secure connection
Server sends its SSL/TLS certificate
Browser verifies the certificate
Encrypted connection is established
Data is transferred securely

HTTP vs HTTPS (Key Differences)

Feature	HTTP	HTTPS
Security	❌ Not secure	✅ Secure
Encryption	No	Yes (SSL/TLS)
Port	80	443
SEO	Not preferred	Google ranking boost
Trust	Low	High

Why HTTPS Is Mandatory Today

Required for modern browsers
Needed for:
- Service Workers
- HTTP/2 and HTTP/3
- Progressive Web Apps
Improves SEO
Builds user trust

Common Myths About HTTPS

HTTPS is slow

→ False, HTTPS with HTTP/2 is often faster.

Only payment sites need HTTPS

→ False, Every site should use HTTPS.

HTTPS makes a site 100% safe

→ False, It secures data in transit, not server logic.

Should You Still Use HTTP?

Only for:

Local development
Internal testing environments

Never for production websites.

Conclusion

HTTP built the web, but HTTPS secures it.

In modern development, HTTPS is no longer optional—it’s a standard.

If your site is still using HTTP, upgrading to HTTPS should be your top priority.

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  Content Disclosure This content was created with the assistance of AI tools and thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked, and refined by a human editor to ensure accuracy, clarity, and usefulness for readers.