title: Difference between SSL and TLS and their usage in Java
body: <p>I am trying to establish an SSL or TLS connection between a Java client and server I am setting up.</p>
  
  <p>I have been using <code>SSLContext.getInstance("SSL")</code> to build the <code>SSLContext</code>, and it worked.</p>
  
  <p>I would like to know what the purpose of the <code>protocol</code> parameter is in <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/javax/net/ssl/SSLContext.html#getInstance%28java.lang.String%29"><code>SSLContext.getInstance(String protocol)</code></a>.</p>
  
  <p>In particular, what changes between using <code>SSLContext.getInstance("SSL")</code> and <code>SSLContext.getInstance("TLS")</code>, or other possible values?</p>