TLS/SSL
TLS (Transport Layer Security) and its predecessor SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) are cryptographic protocols designed to provide secure communication over a computer network, most commonly the internet. They ensure privacy, data integrity, and authentication between two communicating applications, such as a web browser and a server, by encrypting data in transit. TLS is the modern, standardized version that has largely replaced SSL due to security vulnerabilities in older SSL versions.
Developers should learn and use TLS/SSL whenever they need to secure network communications, such as in web applications (HTTPS), email (SMTP with TLS), VPNs, or API calls, to protect sensitive data like passwords, payment information, and personal details from eavesdropping and tampering. It is essential for compliance with security standards (e.g., GDPR, PCI DSS) and building trust with users by preventing man-in-the-middle attacks and data breaches.