What is the purpose of SSL?

The purpose of SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is to encrypt data transferred between browsers and servers. This encryption serves a critical function in securing sensitive information, such as personal data, login credentials, and financial transactions, while they are being transmitted over the internet. By utilizing SSL, data is protected from eavesdropping and tampering by unauthorized parties. It ensures that the communication between the user's browser and the web server remains private and secure.

In the context of the internet, SSL creates a secure tunnel for data to flow through, which helps maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the transferred information. This technology is fundamental in establishing trust on the web, as users can verify that they are communicating with the legitimate site they intend to connect to, often indicated by a padlock icon in the browser's address bar.