Complete Protocol dictionary, glossary and reference

SSL: Secure Socket Layer

The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), a protocol originally defined by Netscape, is a commonly-used protocol for managing the security of a message transmission on the Internet. SSL has been succeeded by Transport Layer Security (TLS). But the SSL name has gained enough popularity, and people still call the protocol SSL or SST/TLS. The protocol is composed of two layers: the TLS Record Protocol and the TLS Handshake Protocol. At the lowest level, layered on top of some reliable transport protocol (TCP) is the TLS Record Protocol. SSL is included as part of both the Microsoft and Netscape browsers and most Web server products.

Standard Organization

IETF

Related Document

RFC 2246