Digital Certificate
Definition
A digital certificate is an electronic document used to prove the ownership of a public key. The certificate includes information about the key, information about its owner's identity, and the digital signature of an entity that has verified the certificate's contents are correct. If the signature is valid, and the software examining the certificate trusts the signer, then it can use that key to communicate securely with the certificate's subject.
Why It Matters
Digital certificates are the foundation of trust on the internet. They are what make technologies like HTTPS possible, allowing your browser to verify that the server you are connecting to is legitimate and not an imposter.
Contextual Example
When you visit your bank's website, your browser receives the bank's TLS/SSL certificate. This certificate, signed by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA), proves that the site is authentic.
Common Misunderstandings
- TLS/SSL certificates are the most common type of digital certificate.
- They are a key component of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).