How To Windows What Is 'HTTP' Protocol, and How Does It Affect Me? Share Pin Email Print Pearleye/E+/Getty Images Windows Key Concepts Computer Concepts File Types Command Line Basics Guides & Tutorials Installing & Upgrading Tips & Tricks by Paul Gil A certified computer instructor with project management experience in web development. Updated February 18, 2019 Question: What Exactly Is 'Computer Protocol HTTP'? How Do These Protocols Affect Me? Answer: a computer 'protocol' is a set of invisible computer rules that govern how an internet document gets transmitted to your screen. These dozens of programmatic rules work in the background in the same way a bank employs staff procedures to keep your money safe. They affect you invisibly as governing rules of the Internet and the Web. A document's internet protocol is described by the first several letters in your browser's address bar, ending in the three characters '://'. The most common protocol you will see is http:// for a regular hypertext page. The second most common protocol you will see is https://, for hypertext pages that are secured against hackers. Examples of internet computer protocols: http Hypertext Transfer Protocolhttps Hypertext Transfer Protocol SecuredTCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocolftp File Transfer ProtocolIMAP Internet Message Access ProtocolPOP Post Office ProtocolSMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocoltelnet Terminal Network protocolUDP User Datagram Protocolnntp Network News Transfer ProtocolMAC Media Access Control protocolDNS Domain Name System protocolDHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol How Do Computer Protocols Affect My Web Surfing?While computer protocols can be very cryptic and technical for programmers and administrators, protocols are really just FYI knowledge for most users. As long as you are aware of the 'http' and 'https' at the beginning of the address, and can type the correct address after the ://, then computer protocols should be nothing more than a curiosity of daily life.If you want to learn more about computer protocols, try Bradley Mitchell's technical articles here. Popular Articles at Lifewire.com: What Is Uber? How Does Uber Work?What Is an Internet Meme?What Is a Hacker?The Best Hacker Movies of All TimeWhy You Should Use a VPN to Protect YourselfThe Most Addictive WebsitesBizarre Facts About the World Wide Web Related Articles: Why Is Uber So Controversial?What Is 'TLDR'?Why Would You Ever Create a Meme?How to Make an Internet MemeAll Lifewire.com Guides to Internet Terms and AcronymsWhat Is 'RTFM'? What Does RTFM Mean?What Is '<Crickets>'? What Does <Crickets> Mean?What Does 'EPEEN' Mean?Internet Trolls: How They Effect You and Tips for Dealing with Them Continue Reading