HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication on the World Wide Web, enabling the transfer of hypertext documents, such as HTML pages, between web servers and clients, such as browsers. HTTP is a stateless protocol, meaning each request from a client to a server is independent, with no knowledge of previous requests. While HTTP is essential for loading web pages and resources, it lacks security, as data transmitted using HTTP is not encrypted and can be intercepted by malicious actors.

To address these security concerns, HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) was introduced. HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP, where data is encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS) or its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This encryption ensures that the data transmitted between the client and server is protected from eavesdropping, tampering, and man-in-the-middle attacks. HTTPS is now a standard for most websites, especially those that handle sensitive information such as passwords, payment details, and personal data. The use of HTTPS also provides authentication, ensuring that users are connecting to the legitimate server and not a malicious impostor.