You have been seeing it in every browser bar for years: that little padlock and the letters "https" before a web address. But what exactly does that mean, and why has it become so important for every website, big or small? In this article, we clearly explain the difference between HTTP and HTTPS.

What is HTTP?

HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. It is the basic protocol used to exchange data between a browser and a web server: when you visit a website, your browser requests the content of that page from the server via HTTP.

The problem with standard HTTP is that the data exchange takes place unencrypted. All information traveling between your browser and the server is, in principle, readable by anyone who were to intercept the traffic, for example on an unsecured Wi-Fi network.

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure. It works essentially the same as HTTP, with one crucial difference: the connection between browser and server is encrypted via an SSL/TLS certificate. As a result, no one along the way can read exactly what is being sent.

How does HTTPS encryption work?

When you visit a website using HTTPS, a small "conversation" takes place in the background between your browser and the server: they exchange digital keys to establish a secure, encrypted connection. From that moment on, all data transmitted, such as entered form details or passwords, is encrypted before it travels across the network. Only the intended recipient can decrypt that data.

Why is HTTPS so important?

Data Protection Sensitive information such as passwords, personal data, or payment details is protected against interception.

Visitor trust The padlock in the browser bar immediately signals to visitors that a website is secure. Without HTTPS, browsers today even display an explicit warning.

SEO advantage Search engines like Google have, for several years, preferred HTTPS websites in their search results over unsecured HTTP websites.

Required for online payments. Do you want to process online payments via your webshop? Then a valid SSL certificate is an absolute requirement, also to comply with payment standards.

Protection against manipulation: HTTPS not only prevents eavesdropping, but also prevents someone from modifying the content of a page en route before it reaches you.

How do you recognize if a website uses HTTPS?

Look at your browser's address bar: does "https://" appear before the web address, along with a padlock icon? If so, the website uses a valid SSL certificate. Is the padlock missing, or does your browser display a warning? Then the connection is not secure.

How do you get HTTPS for your own website?

To use HTTPS, you need an SSL certificate. This is issued by a certificate authority and linked to your domain name. Most hosting providers, including Mediawax, nowadays provide free SSL certificates that are automatically activated and renewed, for example via Let's Encrypt.

Are there different types of SSL certificates?

Yes, with increasing levels of validation:

Domain Validation (DV) : only confirms that you are the owner of the domain. Sufficient for most websites.
Organization Validation (OV) : also confirms the identity of the organization behind the website.
Extended Validation (EV) : the most comprehensive verification, often used by banks and large organizations.

For most business websites and webshops, a DV certificate is more than sufficient.

Conclusion

The difference between HTTP and HTTPS is small in name, but big in impact: HTTPS protects your visitors' data, strengthens trust in your website, and has become a basic requirement for both security and findability. At Mediawax, every website comes standard with a free SSL certificate, ensuring your website is always secure.