What is the role of HTTPS in web communication?

The role of HTTPS in web communication is primarily to encrypt data between the client and server. This means that when you visit a website that uses HTTPS, any data transmitted back and forth—such as login credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data—is protected from eavesdropping or interception by unauthorized parties. This encryption ensures that even if the data is intercepted, it cannot be read or tampered with.

HTTPS achieves this level of security by utilizing protocols such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or its successor, TLS (Transport Layer Security). These protocols create a secure connection that not only encrypts the data but also helps to authenticate the server, ensuring that users are actually communicating with the intended website and not a malicious one.

Understanding this function of HTTPS is crucial as it highlights its importance in protecting user data and maintaining privacy online, especially for sites that handle sensitive information like banking or personal account details.