HTTP vs HTTPS
Definition.
HTTP vs HTTPS: HTTP is an application layer protocol; HTTPS is the same protocol encrypted by Transport Layer Security (TLS).
In More Detail
HTTPS wraps the same HTTP protocol in TLS, so the request and response cannot be read or modified in transit. Without it, anyone between the user and the server — a public Wi-Fi operator, an ISP, a compromised router — can read credentials and inject content.
It is now table stakes rather than an upgrade: browsers mark plain HTTP as not secure, and features like service workers refuse to run without it. Adding HSTS on top tells the browser never to try HTTP for your domain again, which closes the small window where the first request could be downgraded.
In Practice
Every production project I ship gets HTTPS by default (usually via the hosting platform's automatic certificate provisioning) — there's no scenario in 2026 where a client-facing app should be served over plain HTTP.
Related Terms
Browse the full software development glossary, or see the frequently asked questions.
If you are working out whether this applies to your own project, the case studies show where it turned up in real builds, services lists what I take on, and pricing gives the starting figures.
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