HTTPS: A secure communications protocol

HTTPS stands for Hyper Text Transfer protocol Secure. 

How HTTPS works is really easy to understand above is a graphic with the most simple representation of what happens when a browser uses HTTPS. When data (packets) are being sent to a server your browser encrypts the data being sent. HTTPS helps ensure that the information being sent on the internet is safe and not corruptible in transit.

When sending information over the web a HTTPS takes the information and starts encoding it so that it can be safely sent to a destination IP/server. The information is sent in a certificate format once the certificate is sent it has a need for a public key which the sending computer has, once the server obtains the certificate the browser send a temporary or a short term public key which the server can use to encrypt and decrpt data that is being sent and received between the server and browser.

There is really only one pro for this method of information exchange, the encryption prevents the editing of information, and it prevents people from looking at what data is being sent across the networks. There aren't any cons of HTTPS, because it provides encrption, and it makes sure that no one has your private key which is used to decrypt data. Public is for other people while private is for your own leisure.