HTTPS and SSL/TLS.
Learn what HTTPS and SSL/TLS means in modern search and SEO.
The encrypted version of HTTP that secures data in transit between browser and server — a confirmed Google ranking signal since 2014.
HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts the connection between a browser and web server using TLS (Transport Layer Security, the modern successor to SSL). The encryption prevents third parties from reading or tampering with data in transit—protecting form submissions, login credentials, and payment details from interception.
HTTPS as a Google Ranking Signal
Google confirmed HTTPS as a ranking signal in 2014 and has progressively strengthened its preference for HTTPS sites. Chrome now marks HTTP pages as 'Not Secure' in the address bar, increasing user distrust and bounce rates on HTTP sites. Google's crawlers prefer HTTPS URLs when both HTTP and HTTPS versions exist, and PageRank flows more reliably through HTTPS links.
HTTPS Migration SEO Considerations
Migrating from HTTP to HTTPS requires: obtaining an SSL/TLS certificate (free via Let's Encrypt), configuring server-side 301 redirects from all HTTP URLs to HTTPS equivalents, updating internal links, canonical tags, and the sitemap to HTTPS URLs, and verifying both HTTP and HTTPS properties separately in Google Search Console before submitting the HTTPS sitemap.
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