> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.songer.pro/interviewing/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.songer.pro/interviewing/security-domains-and-technical-aptitude/cryptographic-protections/tls/what-is-tls.md).

# What is TLS?

TLS (Transport Layer Security) is a cryptographic protocol used to secure communications over the internet. It provides authentication, data encryption, and integrity verification to ensure that data remains secure and private while in transit. TLS is the successor to the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol and is widely used to secure web traffic, email, VPN connections, and other data transmissions.