What does the acronym SSL stand for, and what is its purpose?

The acronym SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and its primary purpose is to secure data transmitted over the Internet. SSL is a standard technology that provides a secure channel between two devices operating over the internet, ensuring that the data transferred remains private and integral. It accomplishes this through encryption, which makes it difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept and read the data exchanged between the client and server.

The use of SSL is particularly vital when dealing with sensitive information such as credit card numbers, personal details, and login credentials. By establishing an encrypted link, SSL helps to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, and forgery, making it a critical component of online security.

In addition, SSL has evolved into its successor called TLS (Transport Layer Security), which provides improved security features and is now the standard for secure communications on the Internet. However, the term SSL is still widely used to describe the general security protocol for web communications.