SEO Term Definition
HTTPS / SSL Certificate
HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts the connection between browser and server using SSL/TLS. Google has used HTTPS as a ranking signal since 2014.
Reviewed by Alexander Yarovenko · Updated: 2026-09-22
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP — the protocol used to transfer data between a browser and a web server. The "S" stands for Secure, meaning all data is encrypted using SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security) certificates. HTTPS protects user data from being intercepted by third parties (man-in-the-middle attacks).
HTTP vs HTTPS
| HTTP | HTTPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | ❌ None | ✅ SSL/TLS |
| Browser indicator | 🔓 "Not secure" | 🔒 Padlock icon |
| SEO ranking signal | ❌ | ✅ Since 2014 |
| Required for HTTP/2 | ❌ | ✅ |
Why HTTPS Matters for SEO
- Ranking signal — Google confirmed HTTPS as a ranking factor in 2014
- Referrer data — HTTPS sites pass referrer data to other HTTPS sites; HTTP sites lose it
- User trust — Chrome marks HTTP pages as "Not Secure," increasing bounce rates
- Required for modern features — Service Workers, HTTP/2, geolocation API all require HTTPS
Migrating from HTTP to HTTPS
- Install an SSL certificate (free via Let's Encrypt, or paid)
- Update all internal links and canonical tags to HTTPS
- Set up 301 redirects from all HTTP URLs to HTTPS equivalents
- Update your sitemap and robots.txt to use HTTPS URLs
- Add the HTTPS property in Google Search Console
Technical decision
| Correct use | HTTPS protects transport; a valid certificate does not by itself make content trustworthy or optimized. Consolidate every HTTP variant consistently. |
|---|---|
| Validation | Test certificate chains and mixed content, redirect HTTP directly to HTTPS, and update canonicals, hreflang, sitemaps plus internal links. |