SSL Certificate
01 Definition
SSL Certificate meaning: A digital file that enables encrypted HTTPS connections and verifies a site's identity.
An SSL certificate is a digital file issued by a certificate authority that lets a website use encrypted HTTPS connections. It confirms the site owns its domain and enables the secure padlock in browsers. Despite the name, modern certificates use the newer TLS protocol rather than the older SSL.
Also called
Why it matters
How SSL Certificate fits the work
It is what makes HTTPS possible, so a valid certificate keeps connections encrypted and prevents the browser warnings that scare users away from a site.
In context
The team set up auto-renewal for its SSL certificate after an expired one caused a full-day browser warning that blocked visitors from the site.
Practical note
Certificates expire and must be renewed, often automatically. An expired or mismatched certificate triggers a blocking browser warning that can cut off traffic until it is fixed.