HTTPS
01 Definition
HTTPS meaning: The secure, encrypted version of the protocol browsers use to load websites.
HTTPS is Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, the encrypted form of HTTP. It uses TLS to protect data moving between a browser and a server so it cannot be easily read or altered. Google treats HTTPS as a lightweight ranking signal, and browsers flag plain HTTP pages as not secure.
Also called
Why it matters
How HTTPS fits the work
It protects user data in transit and is expected by browsers and search engines, so serving a site over HTTPS supports trust and avoids not secure warnings.
In context
After moving its checkout to HTTPS, the store removed the browser not secure warning that had appeared whenever shoppers entered card details.
Practical note
HTTPS encrypts the connection but does not make a site safe from all threats or guarantee the site is trustworthy. You still need a valid certificate and correct redirects from HTTP.