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GLOSSARY

What is SSL certificate?

DEFINITION

An SSL certificate, more precisely a TLS certificate, is a small file that lets your site load over HTTPS, the secure version of HTTP. It does two things: it encrypts data traveling between the visitor and your server, and it confirms the visitor has reached the domain they typed.

The padlock in the browser reflects it. Certificates expire, usually within months, and most hosts renew them automatically. If renewal fails, browsers show a full-page warning that frightens visitors away, even though your site itself is untouched. Why it matters: An expired or misconfigured certificate makes browsers warn people that your site is unsafe, which stops most of them from continuing.

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