In plain English
It means information moves between a browser and a website through a protected connection instead of plain, readable traffic. The data is encrypted while it travels, and the connection can also confirm that the website is really the site it claims to be.
In context
In a website address, HTTPS marks that the browser and the website use the secure form of the web protocol over an encrypted connection that can also authenticate the website's identity.
- Situation
- Understanding encryption, privacy, data-sharing, and secure-connection labels
- What it communicates
- marks the website address with a protected-connection protocol
Meaning limits
By itself, the term identifies the protected communication method, not any separate privacy or data-sharing rules.
Examples
“The browser opened the account site over HTTPS, while the older help site still loaded over plain HTTP.”
“After the reload, the web address began with HTTPS rather than HTTP.”