What Are HTTP and HTTPS?
What Are HTTP and HTTPS?
Introduction
Every time you open a website, the address bar reveals one of two protocols:
- HTTP
- HTTPS
Although they appear similar, the difference between these two protocols determines whether your connection is secure or vulnerable. HTTP is one of the oldest and most fundamental technologies of the web — but it has a critical flaw: it does not encrypt data.
To address this problem, HTTPS was introduced. It extends HTTP with SSL/TLS encryption, protecting users from attacks, data theft and manipulation.
In this extensive guide, we explore what HTTP and HTTPS are, how they work, their differences, security implications, SEO impact and why HTTPS is now the global standard for the modern internet.
What Is HTTP?
HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) is the foundational communication protocol used by web browsers and web servers. Created in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee, HTTP enables browsers to request and receive data from servers — such as HTML pages, images, scripts and other web resources.
HTTP powers almost everything you see on the internet.
How HTTP Works
HTTP follows a request–response model.
1. The browser sends a request:
GET /index.html HTTP/1.1 Host: solorient.com
2. The server responds:
HTTP/1.1 200 OK Content-Type: text/html
The browser displays the webpage based on the server response.
HTTP is simple, fast and widely supported — but it has one major weakness.
The Problem With HTTP
HTTP transmits data in plain text, meaning:
- passwords
- credit card numbers
- personal information
- session cookies
- form data
- API requests
can be intercepted or manipulated by attackers.
This makes HTTP vulnerable to:
- Man-in-the-Middle attacks
- Eavesdropping
- Session hijacking
- Data tampering
Therefore, HTTP is no longer considered safe for modern internet use.
What Is HTTPS?
HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP. It uses SSL/TLS to encrypt communication between browser and server, making it impossible for attackers to read or alter the data being transmitted.
HTTPS ensures:
- encryption
- authentication
- data integrity
Websites using HTTPS display:
- a padlock icon
- “Secure” label
- URLs beginning with
https://
Today, HTTPS is the default standard required by browsers, search engines and payment systems.
How HTTPS Works
HTTPS uses both asymmetric and symmetric encryption.
1. The user connects to an HTTPS site
Example: https://solorient.com
2. The browser requests the SSL certificate
The server responds with its SSL certificate.
3. The certificate is verified
The browser checks:
- whether a trusted CA issued it
- domain name validity
- expiration date
- digital signature
4. A secure session key is created
The browser encrypts the session key using the server’s public key.
5. The server decrypts the key
The server uses its private key to decrypt the session key.
6. Encrypted communication begins
All communication is now encrypted using the shared session key.
HTTPS = HTTP + SSL/TLS encryption layer
Differences Between HTTP and HTTPS
| Feature | HTTP | HTTPS |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | ❌ No | ✔ Yes |
| Security | Low | High |
| Data Integrity | Weak | Strong |
| SEO Impact | Negative | Positive |
| Browser Warning | “Not Secure” | Secure |
| Use Cases | Legacy systems | Modern websites |
HTTPS is superior in every regard.
Why HTTPS Is Mandatory Today
Modern web standards require HTTPS.
✔ Browser requirements
Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge mark HTTP sites as “Not Secure”.
✔ Google ranking boost
Google gives HTTPS sites a positive ranking signal.
✔ Payment gateways require HTTPS
PayPal, Stripe, iyzico, PayTR and others reject non-HTTPS domains.
✔ User trust
Visitors avoid websites without a padlock icon.
✔ Data protection
Preventing data theft is a legal requirement in many countries.
Security Benefits of HTTPS
HTTPS provides three core protections:
1. Encryption
Data is unreadable to attackers.
2. Authentication
The SSL certificate proves the site's identity.
3. Data Integrity
Prevents alteration or injection of malicious content.
These protections make HTTPS essential for all modern websites.
HTTP/2 and HTTP/3
Modern web protocols require HTTPS.
HTTP/2
- faster connections
- multiplexing support
- header compression
- requires HTTPS in modern browsers
HTTP/3
- built on QUIC
- extremely fast and secure
- only works with HTTPS
This is another reason why HTTP is obsolete.
SEO Impact of HTTPS
HTTPS provides several SEO benefits.
✔ Higher ranking potential
Google confirmed HTTPS as a ranking factor.
✔ Lower bounce rate
Users trust secure websites more.
✔ Better performance with HTTP/2
HTTPS unlocks speed improvements.
✔ Required for AMP
Accelerated Mobile Pages mandate HTTPS.
✔ No browser warnings
HTTP warnings reduce organic traffic significantly.
Drawbacks of HTTPS
No meaningful downside exists today.
The only considerations:
- SSL installation required
- initial configuration needed
However:
- Let’s Encrypt offers free SSL certificates
- hosting panels automate the installation
- setup takes less than 5 minutes
Thus, HTTPS is easy and cost-free.
When Should HTTP Still Be Used?
Practically never — except in:
- isolated local networks
- internal testing environments
- old IoT systems
Even these cases are becoming rare as security standards evolve.
Where HTTPS Must Be Used
Everywhere.
- websites
- admin dashboards
- APIs
- login pages
- e-commerce
- payment forms
- SaaS platforms
- mobile app backends
- corporate portals
If data is transmitted, HTTPS is required.
Why Browsers Block HTTP
Browsers block HTTP because:
- data can be stolen
- session hijacking is easy
- attackers can modify traffic
- privacy is not protected
Modern browsers aim to eliminate unsafe connections entirely.
How to Enable HTTPS
To migrate a site from HTTP to HTTPS:
- Install an SSL certificate
- Update server configuration
- Redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS (301 redirect)
- Fix mixed content (HTTP resources in HTTPS pages)
- Update Search Console and Analytics settings
- Regenerate sitemaps and submit again
Most of this is automated on modern hosting panels.
Conclusion
HTTP and HTTPS are fundamental to how the web works. However, HTTP is an outdated and insecure protocol that should no longer be used.
HTTPS:
- encrypts data
- verifies identity
- protects user privacy
- boosts SEO
- increases trust
- is mandatory for modern browsers
This extensive guide covered:
- what HTTP and HTTPS are
- how they work
- their differences
- SSL/TLS encryption
- browser behavior
- SEO impact
- modern protocol requirements
In short:
HTTP is the past — HTTPS is the secure, modern standard for the web.