SSL (AND TLS)

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its modern successor TLS (Transport Layer Security) are the encryption protocols that secure traffic between a browser and a website. When a site uses HTTPS instead of HTTP, an SSL/TLS certificate is doing the work: encrypting the connection, verifying the server's identity, and preventing eavesdroppers or tamperers from reading or modifying the data in transit. Almost every site on the modern web uses SSL/TLS, because browsers mark HTTP sites as "Not Secure" and search engines rank HTTPS sites higher. Free certificates are available from Let's Encrypt; most reputable hosts include automatic SSL on every plan.

How it works

An SSL/TLS certificate is a small file installed on the web server that contains the public key used to encrypt connections and a chain of trust that browsers can verify. Modern certificates use ECDSA or RSA encryption and are issued by certificate authorities (CAs) like Let's Encrypt, Sectigo or DigiCert.

Why it matters

Without HTTPS, browsers warn visitors away from the site and search engines downrank it. With HTTPS, traffic is encrypted, the site looks trustworthy, and modern features (HTTP/2, service workers, geolocation, payment APIs) actually work. There is no good reason to run a production site without SSL in 2026.

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Frequently Asked Questions