SSL Certificate Glossary

Your complete A-Z reference for SSL certificate terminology. From Certificate Authorities to Subject Alternative Names, understand every SSL term you'll encounter. Each definition includes both quick explanations and detailed descriptions to help you navigate SSL certificates with confidence.

60
SSL Terms
25
Letters Covered

A

1 term

ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment) is a protocol that automates the process of issuing, renewing, and managing SSL certificates, eliminating the need for manual intervention.

Certificate Management

B

1 term

Security vulnerability exploiting CBC mode in SSL 3.0 and TLS 1.0...

Security Vulnerabilities

C

18 terms

An entity that issues and manages SSL certificates

Certificate Authority

The sequence of certificates from end-entity to trusted root

PKI Infrastructure

Verification that the certificate chain is complete and trusted...

The date when the SSL certificate will expire and become invalid...

The date when the Certificate Authority issued the certificate...

The automated process of handling SSL certificates from start to finish (CLM), like having a personal assistant that manages all certificate tasks.

Certificate Management

Teaching your mobile app or website to only trust specific SSL certificates, like only accepting packages from trusted delivery services.

Security Features

The process of invalidating a certificate before its expiration date

Certificate Management

The Certificate Revocation List validation result...

The current validity state of an SSL certificate

Certificate Management

How much time is left before the certificate expires...

A public logging system that monitors certificate issuance

Security Features

The specific Certificate Transparency log records for the certificate...

The Certificate Transparency logging status of the certificate...

The level of identity verification performed before certificate issuance...

Certificate Management

The set of cryptographic algorithms used for the connection

Cryptography

The primary domain name this certificate is issued for

Certificate Fields

The SSL/TLS protocol version currently being used...

D

1 term

Basic validation that confirms domain ownership

Validation Types

E

2 terms

The final certificate in the chain that identifies the server...

The highest level of validation with rigorous identity verification

Validation Types

F

1 term

The complete, specific address of a website that SSL certificates use to identify exactly which domain they protect.

Certificate Fields

G

1 term

A brief window after certificate expiration when some systems might still accept the certificate, though this creates security risks.

Certificate Management

H

2 terms

A security mechanism that forces browsers to always use the secure HTTPS version of a website, protecting against downgrade attacks.

Security Features

HTTPS secures website connections by encrypting data between browsers and servers...

Protocols

I

3 terms

A certificate that sits between the root and end-entity certificates

PKI Infrastructure

A certificate that secures an IP address instead of a domain name

Certificate Types

The Certificate Authority that issued this certificate

Certificate Authority

J

1 term

A certificate storage format specifically designed for Java applications to securely store SSL certificates and private keys.

Certificate Formats

K

1 term

The public key algorithm used in this certificate

Cryptography

L

1 term

The most recent time the certificate status was verified...

M

1 term

A security protocol where both client and server authenticate each other using certificates, providing bidirectional trust verification.

Security Features

N

1 term

Mozilla's security toolkit that handles SSL certificates and encryption, powering Firefox and many other applications' security features.

PKI Infrastructure

O

3 terms

Online Certificate Status Protocol for real-time certificate validation

Certificate Validation

The Online Certificate Status Protocol validation result...

Validation that confirms both domain ownership and organization identity

Validation Types

P

4 terms

A security property that protects past communications if private keys are compromised

Security Features

The entire trust system that makes SSL certificates work, like a network of official agencies that create, manage, and verify digital certificates.

PKI Infrastructure

Critical attack exploiting SSL 3.0 padding validation weaknesses...

Security Vulnerabilities

Port 443 is the network port used to serve secure HTTPS traffic...

Network Infrastructure

Q

1 term

A visual barcode containing SSL certificate information that allows mobile devices to quickly verify website security status.

Certificate Validation

R

1 term

The top-level certificate in the trust hierarchy

PKI Infrastructure

S

9 terms

A certificate that can secure multiple specific domain names

Certificate Types

A certificate that is signed by its own private key...

Unique identifier for this certificate

Certificate Fields

The cryptographic algorithm used to sign this certificate

Cryptography

Allows multiple websites with different SSL certificates to share the same server address, like having multiple businesses operate from the same building.

Protocols

Cryptographic protocol for secure communication, now replaced by TLS...

Protocols

Security protocols that encrypt communications over networks

Protocols

Additional domain names covered by this certificate

Certificate Fields

All SSL/TLS protocol versions the server can negotiate...

T

2 terms

Modern protocol that replaced SSL for secure internet communications...

Protocols

The process of establishing a secure connection between client and server

Protocols

U

1 term

A certificate extension that identifies resources by their web address rather than just domain names, useful for specialized applications.

Certificate Fields

V

1 term

A security audit that identifies weaknesses, outdated settings, or configuration problems in SSL certificate implementations.

Security Features

W

1 term

A certificate that secures a domain and all its subdomains

Certificate Types

X

1 term

The international standard that defines how SSL certificates are structured and what information they must contain.

Certificate Standards

Z

1 term

A security model that requires verification for every access attempt, making SSL certificates crucial for continuous authentication and encryption.

Security Architecture

About This SSL Certificate Glossary

This comprehensive SSL certificate glossary contains essential terminology used in SSL certificate management, PKI infrastructure, and web security. Each term includes both brief definitions for quick reference and detailed explanations for deeper understanding.

The terms in this glossary are frequently referenced in SSL certificate details pages, validation processes, and certificate management workflows. Understanding these terms will help you better manage your SSL certificates and make informed security decisions for your websites and applications.

Each term has its own dedicated page with even more detailed information, examples, and related concepts. Can't find a term you're looking for? Contact us and we'll consider adding it to our glossary.