Security
What is SSL/TLS?
Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security — protocols for encrypted communication.
Definition
TLS (Transport Layer Security), the successor to SSL, provides encrypted communication between clients and servers. When you see HTTPS, TLS is encrypting the connection. The TLS handshake establishes a shared secret using asymmetric cryptography, then uses symmetric encryption for speed. Certificates (from Let's Encrypt, DigiCert, etc.) verify server identity. TLS 1.3 is the latest version, offering improved security and faster handshakes.