An SSL certificate (technically a TLS certificate in modern usage) is a digital document that serves two purposes: it verifies that a website is who it claims to be, and it contains the public key used to establish an encrypted connection between your browser and the server.
Types of SSL Certificates
| Type | Validation Level | Issuance Time | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| DV (Domain Validated) | Domain ownership only | Minutes | Personal sites, blogs |
| OV (Organization Validated) | Domain + business identity | 1-3 days | Business websites |
| EV (Extended Validation) | Full legal entity verification | 1-2 weeks | Banks, large enterprises |
| Wildcard | Covers *.domain.com (all subdomains) | DV or OV | Sites with many subdomains |
| Multi-domain (SAN) | Multiple domains on one cert | DV or OV | Hosting multiple sites |
How to Get an SSL Certificate
- Let's Encrypt - Free DV certificates, auto-renew every 90 days. Used by millions of sites. Available through most hosting control panels.
- Hosting provider - Most web hosts include a free SSL certificate (usually Let's Encrypt).
- Commercial CA - DigiCert, Sectigo, GlobalSign for OV/EV certificates.
How to Fix an SSL Certificate Error
SSL errors in browsers ("Your connection is not private") usually mean:
- The certificate expired (check renewal)
- The domain on the certificate does not match the site URL
- The certificate was issued by an untrusted CA
- Your system clock is wrong (certificate validity check fails)
Check any site's certificate status with our SSL Check tool.
People Also Ask
- Is an SSL certificate necessary?
- Yes, for any website. Without HTTPS, browsers show security warnings, search engines rank you lower, and form data (passwords, payments) is transmitted in plaintext.
Related: SSL/TLS explained | What is HTTPS? | SSL Check