[tor-talk] Why does TBB use SOCKS and not HTTP(S)?

[blobby at openmailbox.org]

In the Preferences section of the TBB, the proxy is SOCKS 5 on 
127.0.0.1.

Since the TBB is a web browser and the web uses HTTP(S), why is the HTTP 
settings not used.

I understand that Tor also uses SOCKS (e.g. torsocks). But, even so, the 
browser uses HTTP(S). Why does the browser require SOCKS and not HTTP?

I know there is a very simple answer but I don't know what it is!