Lesson 4 of 6
Ports and Protocols
Discover how ports and protocols deliver the right traffic.
Protocols define the rules
A protocol is a set of rules for communication. TCP ensures reliable delivery (used by websites and email). UDP is faster but less reliable (used by gaming and video calls). HTTP and HTTPS are application protocols for web pages.
HTTPS adds encryption with TLS so traffic between your browser and the server cannot be easily read by others.
Ports identify services
A port is a number that tells a computer which service should receive the data. Port 443 is typically HTTPS. Port 80 is HTTP. Port 22 is often SSH. Port 25 and 587 are related to email.
Firewalls can block unused ports to reduce security risk. Opening ports unnecessarily can expose services to attackers.
Key takeaways
- Protocols define how data is sent and received.
- HTTPS encrypts web traffic.
- Ports route traffic to the correct application.