SSL/TLS certificates are digital credentials that establish secure connections between websites and users. Here's a breakdown of their key components and functionality:
What's Inside an SSL/TLS Certificate?
- Public Key 🔐
Used for encrypting data during transmission - Issuer Information 📜
Details about the certificate authority (CA) that validated it - Subject Data 📌
Contains the domain name and organizational info - Validity Period ⏳
Start and end dates of the certificate's effectiveness - Signature Algorithm ✍️
Method used to ensure certificate authenticity
How TLS Handshake Works 🤝
- Client requests secure connection 🌐
- Server sends its certificate 📁
- Client verifies certificate validity 🧐
- Key exchange and encryption setup 🔐
- Secure communication established 🚀
Certificate Validation Process 📊
- Domain Matching 🔄
Ensures certificate matches the requested domain - CA Trust Chain 🌐
Verifies certificate through trusted root authorities - Revocation Checks 📉
Confirms certificate hasn't been revoked (OCSP/CRL)
Common Certificate Types 📦
| Type | Use Case | Icon |
|---|---|---|
| DV | Basic domain validation | 📱 |
| OV | Organization validation | 🏢 |
| EV | Extended validation | ✅ |
For deeper technical insights, explore our SSL/TLS Certificate Features Guide.