Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. It ensures privacy, integrity, and authenticity of data exchanged between clients and servers, such as web browsers and websites. TLS achieves this by encrypting the data in transit, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept or tamper with the information. It is widely used for securing internet traffic, including HTTPS, email, and other applications. TLS has replaced its predecessor, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), due to improved security features and ongoing updates to address vulnerabilities. Proper implementation of TLS is essential for protecting sensitive data online.