HTTPs versus HTTP is an important topic for anyone involved in web development or website security. HTTPs stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure and is an extension of the standard HTTP protocol used to create both unsecured and secure connections between two systems, usually between a web server and web browser. HTTPs is far more secure than HTTP, which means it should be used for websites that contain sensitive or private data, such as banking websites or e-commerce sites.
To determine when you should use HTTPs versus plain HTTP, it is important to understand exactly what the difference is between the two. HTTPs is encrypted using Transport Layer Security protocol, or TLS. This means that all communication and data sent over an HTTPs connection is encrypted and secure. In comparison, an HTTP connection is unencrypted, making it easy for anyone who intercepts the communication and data to view it. For this reason, HTTPs should always be used for websites that handle sensitive information, such as financial, health, and other private information.
Another determining factor when deciding if you should use HTTPs versus regular HTTP is the type of website content you are creating. For example, if you are creating a blog, you’ll likely be fine using regular HTTP. However, if you’re creating an e-commerce site, you should definitely use HTTPs in order to ensure the secure transmission of sensitive data such as credit card information. Similarly, if you’re creating a membership-based website, you should ensure the communications between the web server and web browser are secure by using HTTPs.
Overall, when deciding whether to use HTTPs versus plain HTTP, always consider the type of data or information you’ll be sharing or transmitting over the web. If it is sensitive information, such as financial, health, or private data, then using HTTPs is always the best option. Otherwise, using standard HTTP should be fine. Regardless of which version you choose, always remember that security is key when transmitting sensitive data across the web.