Secure Sockets Layer
Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL, is a cryptographic protocol that provides a secure communication over networks such as the Internet. It is extensible by design, offers forward and backward compatibility support and facilitates negotiation between peers. SSL is being used for security purposes - it encrypts the connection between networks and turns plain text into a cipher-like combination. It's most widely used with pages, which require enhanced security, such as login forms or online stores' payments pages.