Web Development
What is an SSL certificate (HTTPS)?
Quick answer
An SSL certificate is a small data file that encrypts the connection between a visitor's browser and your website, turning http:// into the secure https:// with a padlock icon. It protects data like passwords and card details while they travel, and browsers now warn users away from sites that don't have one.
When a page loads over HTTPS, the certificate lets the browser and server set up an encrypted (TLS) connection, so anything sent — logins, form entries, payment details — can't be read in transit. The padlock in the address bar is the visible sign it's working. Certificates come in validation levels (domain, organisation, extended), but for most sites a standard domain-validated certificate is all that's needed.
The good news is that SSL is usually free or already included. Most hosts and platforms provision a free certificate automatically (often via Let's Encrypt) and renew it for you. It also matters for SEO: Google treats HTTPS as a ranking signal and flags non-HTTPS pages as 'Not secure', which can scare off visitors. In practice, every live website today should be served over HTTPS.
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