Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS | HTTP vs HTTPS

By Aina Parasher|Updated : September 26th, 2022

You may have noticed URLs that begin with http:// or https:// in the address bar of an internet browser. Both of these protocols are used to communicate website data between the web server and the browser. We have provided the difference between http and https in this article.

The sole difference between http and https, the two protocols is that https encrypts http requests and answers. As a result, https is far safer than http. The URL of an http website is http://, but the URL of an https website is https://. The following are the two types of internet protocols that allow data to be exchanged within a website: HTTP and HTTPS.

Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS PDF

Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS

The main difference between the two protocols is that HTTPS encrypts HTTP requests and answers with TLS (SSL). As a result, HTTPS is far safer than HTTP. Here, we have provided the difference between HTTP and HTTPS in the table given below.

HTTP vs HTTPS
HTTPHTTPS

In HTTP, the URL begins with “http://”.

In HTTPS, the URL starts with “https://”.
Data is sent in clear text and is not encrypted before being sent.Data is jumbled before being sent and is exchanged in cypher or encrypted text.
Doesn't help with search engine optimization.It aids in the improvement of search engine rankings.
HTTP is quicker than HTTPS.HTTPS uses a lot of processing power to encrypt the communication channel, so it's slow.
Encryption is absent in HTTP.Encryption is present in HTTPS.
It does not require any certificate.It requires SSL certificates.
It works on the Application Layer.It works on Transport Layer.

What is HTTP?

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, and it is a protocol – or a set of rules for presenting data – that is used to send data over the internet. The HTTP protocol is used to send most data across the Internet, including website content and API calls. HTTP messages are divided into two categories: requests and responses.

HTTP is an application layer network protocol that uses TCP as its foundation. HTTP makes use of hypertext structured text to create a logical relationship between text nodes. It's also known as the "stateless protocol" since each command is conducted separately, without using the last run command as a reference.

What is HTTPS?

HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure is the full form of HTTPS. It is a highly advanced and secure HTTP version. For data communication, it uses port 443. Encrypting all communication using SSL, provides for secure transactions. It combines the SSL/TLS protocol with HTTP. It identifies a network server in an encrypted and secure manner.

Both HTTP and HTTPS protocols are marked differently in current browsers such as Chrome. HTTPS uses the Transport Layer Security encryption technology, which is also known as a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

Key Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS

The key differences between HTTP and HTTPS are given below.

  • HTTPS offers security, making it preferred to HTTP.
  • While HTTPS runs at the Transport Layer, HTTP functions at the Application Layer.
  • While HTTPS runs at the Transport Layer, HTTP functions at the Application Layer.
  • The default port for HTTP is 80, while the default port for HTTPS is 443.
  • When compared to HTTPS, which uses cypher text, HTTP transfers data in plain text (encrypt text).
  • Because HTTPS requires processing power to secure the communication route, HTTP is faster than HTTPS.

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FAQs on Difference between HTTP and HTTPS

  • Both http and https are protocols using which the information of a particular website is exchanged between Web Server and Web Browser. But the difference between http and https is that the latter is much more secure compared to the former.

  • HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. HTTP is a set of rules and standards that regulate how information can be sent across the Internet. HTTP establishes communication standards for web browsers and servers.

  • Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol enhancement. It is widely used on the Internet and is utilised for secure communication over a computer network. HTTPS encrypts the communication protocol with Transport Layer Security (previously Secure Sockets Layer).

  • The speed difference between http and https is that http is quicker than https because https requires more processing resources to encrypt the communication route.

  • The http protocol is not safe since it lacks SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), which implies that data can be stolen during transmission from the client to the server. The SSL certificate in the https protocol turns the data into an encrypted form, thus no data can be stolen because outsiders cannot comprehend the encrypted language.

  • Based on the port number, the difference between http and https is that http protocol uses port 80 to transfer data, whereas https uses port 443 to transmit data. Tim Berners-Lee stated in his documentation that "if the port number is not supplied, then it will be deemed HTTP."

  • The main difference between the two protocols is that HTTPS employs TLS (SSL) to encrypt and digitally sign requests and answers made using regular HTTP. Because of this, HTTPS is much safer than HTTP.

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