SSL Certificate
Definition.
SSL Certificate: A digital certificate that authenticates a website's identity and enables an encrypted connection.
In More Detail
A certificate binds a public key to a domain name and is signed by an authority the browser already trusts. That chain of trust is what lets a browser be confident it is talking to the right server rather than an impostor.
Operationally the main risk is expiry — an expired certificate breaks the site as visibly as an outage. Automated renewal via Let's Encrypt removes that failure mode, and every platform I deploy to now handles it by default, which is one fewer calendar reminder to miss.
In Practice
Handled automatically on every project I deploy through the hosting platform (Vercel, Let's Encrypt via the server) — not something a client needs to purchase or manage separately in almost any modern setup.
Related Terms
Browse the full software development glossary, or see the frequently asked questions.
If you are working out whether this applies to your own project, the case studies show where it turned up in real builds, services lists what I take on, and pricing gives the starting figures.
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