The HTTPS package is a group of C++ classes that implement the HTTPS protocol for secure communication on the Internet. The package depends on the HTTP and Secure Sockets packages of Rogue Wave SourcePro Net. Basically, the HTTPS protocol is the HTTP protocol over an SSL/TLS secure socket. You can do anything with an HTTPS connection that you can do with a normal HTTP connection.

If you have ever purchased something through the Internet, your Web browser probably used the HTTPS protocol. All major Web browsers and servers support HTTPS. When the lock icon appears in your browser window, it shows that the browser has switched from HTTP to HTTPS and that the Web page was sent using a secure connection. When the lock icon disappears, it shows that the browser has switched back to HTTP.

For information about the HTTP, SSL/TLS, and HTTPS protocols, see the Internet Engineering Task Force RFCs listed in Chapter B.