Secure Sockets Layer
/ˌɛs-ɛs-ˈɛl/
n. “The grandparent of TLS, keeping secrets before it got serious.”
SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is the predecessor to TLS and was the original cryptographic protocol designed to secure communications over the internet. Developed by Netscape in the mid-1990s, SSL enabled encrypted connections between clients and servers, protecting sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, and private messages from eavesdropping or tampering.
Transport Layer Security
/ˌtiː-ɛl-ˈɛs/
n. “Encrypts it so nobody can peek while it travels.”
TLS, or Transport Layer Security, is the cryptographic protocol that ensures data transmitted over networks remains private, authentic, and tamper-proof. It evolved from the older SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocols and has become the foundation of secure communication on the internet. Websites, email servers, VPNs, and numerous other networked services rely on TLS to protect sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal communications.