SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a cryptographic protocol used to secure communication between a client and a server over a network by encrypting transmitted data. It protects information such as passwords, emails, and payment details from interception or tampering by ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and authentication during data transfer. SSL uses digital certificates and public-key cryptography to verify the identity of servers and establish an encrypted connection.
Although the term SSL is still commonly used, it has been formally replaced by TLS (Transport Layer Security), which is the modern, more secure successor. Most systems that refer to “SSL” today are actually using TLS.