Protocols – The Languages of the Internet
When computers talk, they need to agree on how to communicate — just like people need to share a language.
These shared digital “languages” are called protocols.
Here are a few important ones:
|
Protocol |
What It Does |
Example |
Secure? |
|
HTTP |
Loads web pages |
Visiting a site starting with “http://” |
❌ Not encrypted |
|
HTTPS |
Secure web communication |
Banking or school sites |
✅ Encrypted |
|
FTP |
Transfers files between computers |
Uploading website files |
⚠️ Not always safe |
|
SMTP |
Sends emails |
Gmail sending messages |
⚠️ Can be used for phishing |
|
SSH |
Secure remote control of computers |
System administrators logging in safely |
✅ Strongly encrypted |
Protocols are like the grammar of computer conversations — they make sure everyone understands the message.
