HTTP vs HTTPS

In this post, we will learn the difference between HTTP and HTTPS in detail. This is a frequently asked
question in interviews for beginners. Let's dive into it.

What is HTTP?

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It's a protocol used for transmitting hypertext over the internet. HTTP operates on a client-server model where the web browser is the client and the machine hosting the website is the server.

The client sends an HTTP request, and the server returns an HTTP response, containing the requested information like an HTML webpage or any other resource.

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS, short for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, is an extension of HTTP. It functions just like HTTP but adds a layer of security to the data transmission process. This added layer encrypts the data exchanged, ensuring that the information remains secure and private.

HTTPS uses Transport Layer Security (TLS), or its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), to encrypt communications. In simple terms, it means that even if someone intercepted the data, they would not be able to understand it due to the encryption. 

Difference between HTTP and HTTPS in Java

HTTP	HTTPS
HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol.	HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure.
HTTP transmits data in plain text, which means it can be intercepted and read by third parties.	HTTPS encrypts the data that is sent and received, which prevents third parties from easily interpreting the data.
HTTP operates at the application layer.	HTTPS operates at the transport layer.
HTTP URLs start with "http://"	HTTPS URLs start with "https://".
HTTP does not require any certificates.	HTTPS requires an SSL/TLS certificate to establish a secure connection.
HTTP by default operates on port 80.	HTTPS by default operates on port 443.
HTTP is less secure and is more vulnerable to attacks such as man-in-the-middle or eavesdropping.	HTTPS is more secure and is resistant to such attacks due to its encryption.
HTTP is faster as compared to HTTPS because of no encryption-decryption.	HTTPS is slightly slower as compared to HTTP because the sent data needs to be encrypted and the received data needs to be decrypted.
HTTP does not support any encryption techniques.	HTTPS supports encryption techniques like SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security).

Conclusion 

While HTTP is faster and simpler, HTTPS provides security and confidentiality to users, which is crucial in the current digital age. Websites dealing with sensitive data like financial information, login credentials, or personal data should use HTTPS to ensure data integrity and user privacy. 

Switching to HTTPS is also beneficial from an SEO perspective, as Google uses HTTPS as a ranking signal. Users are also more likely to trust and engage with websites that are marked as secure.