Which statement best describes the role of TLS in HTTPS?

• A. It authenticates endpoints only.
• B. It logs traffic.
• C. It provides encryption for HTTP.
• D. It compresses data.

Answer: (C)

TLS in HTTPS is what creates a secure, private channel for the HTTP data. It negotiates keys and then encrypts the HTTP messages in transit, so eavesdroppers can’t read them, while also ensuring the data hasn’t been altered and allowing the client to verify the server’s identity with a certificate. That encryption focus is the core role of TLS in this context, making the statement that TLS provides encryption for HTTP the most accurate description. The other ideas don’t capture TLS’s main purpose: TLS doesn’t log traffic, and while it can authenticate endpoints, its primary function isn’t "authentication only," and compression is not a defining feature of TLS in HTTPS.