What is difference between http and https?

Question

I noticed one post that PM edited from a while ago that changed a sprite location from http to https, and was confused about what it meant.

I can't recall if it has always been https or whether there was a switch (if that is possible. If it is, what does it mean? One or the other?)

Also, I've never really been good with computers, so I'd appreciate a dumb-ed down version of the answer.

Thanks in advance!

Comments

I know the 's' stands for 'secure', so it's used for some sites where you have to login and send that website private information... I think. Not all websites that require logins use https.

I think.

Answer 1

HTTP is the "protocol" used for websites (basically the underlying technology of how a web page comes from the server onto your computer).

HTTPS is the secure version of that. For example if you use an unsecured public wifi network and open a HTTP website, anyone would be able to see what pages you're visiting, and even see your password when you log in to a website. But that's not possible if the website is HTTPS.

There are some speed benefits too, and one of the best things about PokemonDb is its speed :) I switched over all images on the main website to HTTPS a while back. Then around September last year I enabled HTTPS on the website itself but not the default. Then just a few weeks ago I made HTTPS the default so the entire site uses it now.

The problem with HTTPS is that if images are linked using HTTP that is technically insecure and some browsers may show a warning or may not load them. So I've edited a few posts that linked to HTTP images to make them HTTPS. Since then I've developed a better workaround instead of editing every post manually.

That was a pretty long-winded answer to a simple question :D

Comments

Not at all, thanks for taking the time to simplify it so I could understand! :D