Software → Security
Digital Certificate
A signed data structure that binds a public key to an identity.
Motivation
Digital certificate solves the problem of binding an identity to a public key.
Where it fits
Digital Certificate belongs to public-key infrastructure.
Mental model
A certificate contains identity information, a public key, validity period, and a signature from a trusted authority.
Common mistakes
- Confusing a certificate with a private key.
- Ignoring hostname validation.
Related concepts
Digital Certificate connects to certificate authority, TLS, HTTPS, and public-key cryptography.