What is HTTPS?
The secure version of HTTP. Encrypts traffic between browser and server. The padlock in the address bar — you want that.
HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP, the protocol your browser uses to fetch pages. The extra S stands for "secure" and means all traffic between your browser and the site's server is encrypted — turned into code that nobody else can read.
Think of sending a postcard versus a sealed letter. The postcard (plain HTTP) can be read by anyone along the way. The sealed letter (HTTPS) is locked so only the recipient can open it. If you are sending passwords or card numbers, you obviously want it sealed.
You recognise HTTPS by the padlock in your browser's address bar and by the address starting with https://. It is a signal both to you and to visitors that the connection is safe and that information sent cannot be intercepted en route.
Why is HTTPS important for your business?
HTTPS protects your visitors' information — passwords, contact details, and payments — from being intercepted. Without it, sensitive data can end up in the wrong hands, which can harm both customers and your reputation.
It also affects credibility and visibility. Browsers now warn about sites without HTTPS with messages like "not secure", and Google favours secure sites in search results. HTTPS is simply a basic hygiene factor today.
HTTPS in practice
Say a customer shops in your online store and enters their card details. With HTTPS, the information is encrypted on the way to the server, so nobody listening on the network can read the card number. Without HTTPS, it would be like shouting the digits in a crowded room.
Even for a simple business site without payments, HTTPS matters. If a visitor sees a "not secure" warning in the address bar, they quickly lose trust — while the padlock signals that you are serious and take security seriously.
Common questions about HTTPS
What does HTTPS mean?
HTTPS is the secure, encrypted version of HTTP and is used to protect traffic between browser and server. The padlock in the address bar shows the connection is secure and information cannot be intercepted.
What is the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?
HTTP sends information in plain text, like a postcard anyone can read. HTTPS encrypts everything, like a sealed letter, so only the intended recipient can access the content.
Does my site need HTTPS?
Yes, absolutely. Today browsers warn about sites without HTTPS and Google ranks them lower. Whether you sell something or just have an information page, HTTPS is a basic security and trust requirement.
Related terms
Serverless
There are still servers — you just do not need to worry about them. Someone else has the headache. You have the app.
API
Application Programming Interface. Think of a waiter who takes your order (request) and brings the food (data) from the kitchen (server).
Cache
Stored data that loads instantly instead of being fetched again. Often the reason your site feels fast — or why changes do not show up.
CDN
Content Delivery Network — copies of your site spread around the world so it loads quickly wherever your visitors are.
Cloud
Someone else's computers. Servers in massive data centres you rent instead of own — AWS, Google Cloud, Azure.
Database
Where all your data lives — users, orders, everything. Lose the database and you lose everything, which is why we back it up.