HTTPS (SSL/TLS)

Definition

HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is the encrypted version of HTTP, using SSL/TLS certificates to secure the connection between a user's browser and your web server. Google confirmed HTTPS as a ranking signal in 2014, and modern browsers display 'Not Secure' warnings for HTTP pages. Beyond SEO, HTTPS is essential for user trust, especially on pages that handle passwords, payment information, or personal data. Implementation: obtain an SSL certificate (free via Let's Encrypt or through your hosting provider), install it on your server, redirect all HTTP URLs to HTTPS via 301 redirects, update internal links to HTTPS, and update your sitemap and canonical tags. Most modern hosting platforms include HTTPS by default.