Transport Layer Security (TLS) Glossary Definition

Transport Layer Security (TLS) - and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which is now deprecated - are cryptographic protocols that provide communications security over a computer network.

See also: TLS.

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a Web security or Internet privacy concept used to protect users, sessions, resources, or browser interactions from misuse.

This term is used in software engineering, programming, scripting, testing, application architecture, and development lifecycle work. It helps teams describe how software is designed, implemented, integrated, and maintained. This entry also has related glossary assignments in Cybersecurity, Compliance, and Access Management, so it may appear in more than one professional context.

Security teams, developers, and site owners use this concept when reducing risk in browser sessions, authentication flows, embedded content, and public-facing applications.

Related concepts include Authentication and Cookie.

Additional Resource: MDN Web Docs Glossary.

Cryptographic protocol used to secure network communications.