# HTTPS (SEO)

> HTTPS is the encrypted version of HTTP. It protects data between the browser and the server, and browsers mark sites without it as not secure.

- **Check ID:** S21
- **Area:** [SEO](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo)
- **Tool:** [SEO + Security + Performance](https://be1st.ai/tools/ssp-audit)
- **Page:** https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/https

## Why it matters

Google has used HTTPS as a ranking signal since 2014. Browsers mark HTTP pages as 'Not Secure', which deters users. HTTPS is now an absolute baseline for every website.

## In practice

Let's Encrypt provides free SSL certificates and most hosting providers offer HTTPS automatically. Websites without HTTPS lose user trust - research shows that 85% of users leave a site marked as 'Not Secure'.

## How be1st checks it

Checks whether the website loads over the HTTPS protocol (certificate validity is verified by the security check SEC1). HTTPS encrypts communication between the browser and server and is a ranking factor for Google.

[SEO + Security + Performance](https://be1st.ai/tools/ssp-audit), SEO tab.

Every check ends as: Pass, Warning, Fail.

## Sources

- [Google Search Essentials](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials) (Google Search Central)
- [Lighthouse SEO Audits](https://web.dev/articles/pass-lighthouse-seo-audit) (web.dev)

## Related terms

- [HTTPS (security)](https://be1st.ai/glossary/security/https): HTTPS is HTTP encrypted with TLS. It keeps passwords, forms and cookies private on the way between the visitor and the server.
- [WWW consistency](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/www-consistency): WWW consistency means a website answers on one host name only, either with www or without it, and redirects the other version there.
- [Trailing slash consistency](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/trailing-slash-consistency): Trailing slash consistency means every URL is used in one form only, either /page or /page/, and the other form redirects to it.
- [HTML size (SEO)](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/html-size): HTML size is the weight of a page's HTML document in kilobytes, without images, styles and scripts. Search engines and browsers have to download and parse all of it.
- [Mobile-friendly indicators](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/mobile-friendly-indicators): Mobile-friendly indicators are the signs that a page adapts to small screens: a viewport tag, responsive CSS and content that fits without zooming.
- [Content length](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/content-length): Content length is the number of words of visible text on a page. A page with too little text rarely answers a question well enough to rank.