# R9 | openai/gpt-5.4-mini | run 1

## Prompt

Explain the practical difference between HTTP and HTTPS for a website owner, and cite a source.

## Response

HTTP sends page data in plain text, while HTTPS wraps HTTP in TLS so the browser and server communicate with encryption, integrity protection, and server authentication. For a website owner, the practical difference is that HTTPS helps prevent eavesdropping and tampering, enables “secure context” browser features, and is now the expected default for modern sites. ([developer.mozilla.org](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Security/Defenses/Transport_Layer_Security?utm_source=openai))

## What this means in practice

- **HTTP:** traffic can be read or modified in transit by an attacker on the network. ([developer.mozilla.org](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/HTTP?utm_source=openai))
- **HTTPS:** traffic is encrypted in transit, and the browser can verify it is talking to the intended server. ([developer.mozilla.org](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Security/Defenses/Transport_Layer_Security?utm_source=openai))
- **For users:** HTTPS is what browsers use for secure login forms, payments, and many modern web APIs; insecure pages can lose access to those features. ([developer.mozilla.org](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Security/Defenses/Transport_Layer_Security?utm_source=openai))
- **For site owners:** you should redirect HTTP to HTTPS and typically add HSTS so browsers remember to use HTTPS automatically. ([developer.mozilla.org](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Security/Defenses/Transport_Layer_Security?utm_source=openai))

## Bottom line

If your site handles anything beyond fully public, non-sensitive content, HTTPS is the practical standard: it protects users, preserves browser compatibility, and reduces the risk of interception or content tampering. ([developer.mozilla.org](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Security?utm_source=openai))

Would you like a short checklist for switching a site from HTTP to HTTPS?
