What is HTTPS, and how does it secure web applications?

The correct answer explains that HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure, which is essentially HTTP layered on top of a secure protocol, typically either SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security). This combination provides critical security features for web applications by encrypting the data exchanged between the user's browser and the web server. This encryption helps protect sensitive information—such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal data—from being intercepted by malicious actors during transmission.

The security provided by HTTPS is essential in establishing a secure channel over an insecure network, such as the internet. It not only encrypts the data but also provides authentication, ensuring that the parties exchanging information are who they claim to be, and integrity, which ensures that the data has not been tampered with during transit. By using HTTPS, web applications can protect against eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and other types of cyber threats.

Options that refer to unencrypted data transfer, enhancing aesthetics, or speeding up loading times do not capture the primary purpose and function of HTTPS, which is focused on securing data communication, thus clarifying why the correct answer is the only one that accurately describes HTTPS.