What Is HTTPS? | SEO Glossary

HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is the encrypted version of HTTP that protects data transmitted between a website and its users via SSL/TLS encryption. It has been an official Google ranking signal since 2014.

Why It Matters

Google confirmed HTTPS as a ranking factor in 2014. Today, HTTPS is so widespread that lacking it hurts rankings more than having it helps. Starting in 2026, Chrome enforces "HTTPS-by-default," automatically attempting HTTPS connections and displaying warnings for HTTP sites. Without HTTPS, sites lose user trust and face higher bounce rates.

HTTPS, SSL, and TLS

HTTP: Web data transfer protocol (no encryption)
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer): Original encryption protocol, now deprecated
TLS (Transport Layer Security): Modern replacement for SSL
HTTPS: HTTP + TLS encryption = secure communication

The industry still uses "SSL certificate" colloquially, but TLS is the actual protocol in use.

What HTTPS Protects

Data encryption: Form data, login credentials, and payment information cannot be intercepted during transit
Data integrity: Ensures transmitted data is not tampered with
Server authentication: SSL/TLS certificates verify the site's identity

SEO Impact

Ranking signal: A confirmed Google ranking factor. All else being equal, HTTPS sites rank above HTTP.

Crawling and referrer data: When traffic moves from HTTPS to HTTP, referrer information is stripped, making analytics incomplete.

User trust: Chrome, Safari, and other major browsers display "Not Secure" warnings on HTTP sites, driving visitors away.

How to Implement

Obtain an SSL/TLS certificate from your hosting provider or a Certificate Authority (CA)
Install the certificate on your web server
Set up 301 redirects from all HTTP URLs to HTTPS
Update internal links, canonical tags, and sitemaps to use HTTPS URLs
Register the HTTPS version in Google Search Console

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