What Are HTTP, HTTPS, and HTTP/2/3?

What Are HTTP, HTTPS, and HTTP/2/3?

Every time you visit a website, your browser talks to the web server using a communication standard called HTTP.

This guide explains what HTTP, HTTPS, and their newer versions HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 do — and why they matter for your website’s performance and security.

•  What Is HTTP?

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is how browsers and servers exchange data.

When you open a page, your browser sends a request to the server asking for files (like HTML, CSS, or images), and the server responds with the content.

Common HTTP methods:

• GET – Retrieve data (load a page)
• POST – Send data (submit a form)
• PUT / DELETE – Update or remove a resource

Main limits of HTTP 1.1:

• Works sequentially — one file at a time (slower)
• Doesn’t remember sessions (stateless)
• Sends data as plain text (not encrypted)

In short, HTTP made the web possible — but it needed upgrades for speed and security.

•  What Is HTTPS?

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) adds encryption to HTTP using SSL/TLS certificates.

It protects the data between your site and your visitors — keeping passwords, forms, and payments safe.

• Why HTTPS matters:

 Encrypts all data transfers

 Improves SEO and visitor trust

 Required by browsers — HTTP-only sites show “Not Secure”

How it works:

• Uses two keys — one public, one private
• Runs on port 443 instead of 80
• Uses TLS encryption for secure handshakes

 Tip: Every website should have an SSL certificate installed — it’s essential for both security and ranking.

•  What Are HTTP/2 and HTTP/3?

Modern versions of HTTP make the web faster, lighter, and more reliable.

•  HTTP/2 (Released 2015)

Improves page loading and server efficiency.

Key upgrades:

• Multiplexing: Load multiple files in one connection
• Header Compression: Reduces data size
• Server Push: Sends files before the browser requests them
• Prioritization: Loads important resources first

•  HTTP/3 (Released 2022)

The latest and fastest version — built on QUIC, which uses UDP instead of TCP.

Main benefits:

• Faster connections and reconnections
• Handles unstable networks better
• Built-in encryption by default

Updated on: 03/11/2025