What distinguishes the HTTPS protocol from HTTP and why is it important for security?

HTTPS differs from HTTP in that it uses encryption of data via the TLS (formerly SSL) protocol. This provides:

• Confidentiality — data is transmitted in encrypted form, making it unreadable if intercepted.
• Integrity — guarantees that data has not been altered in transit.
• Server authentication — the client verifies that it is connecting to the real server, not an imposter.

This is important for security, especially when transmitting personal information, passwords, or payment data. Without HTTPS, data can be intercepted and misused by attackers.

In C#, working with HTTPS usually involves HttpClient, which supports secure connections by default.