Security · Website glossary

Certificate authority

Quick answer · What is Certificate authority?

An organization or system that issues digital certificates within a trust framework.

IN PRACTICE

Certificate authority: an example

A browser trusts an approved certificate chain ending at a recognized root authority.

KEEP IN MIND

A certificate authority verifies according to its issuance rules; a certificate is not a general business endorsement.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of Certificate authority?

A browser trusts an approved certificate chain ending at a recognized root authority.

Is a certificate a general endorsement of the business?

A certificate authority verifies according to its issuance rules; a certificate is not a general business endorsement.

Which concepts should I read alongside Certificate authority?

TLS certificate: A signed digital document that associates an identity, such as domain names, with a public key used in TLS authentication.
CAA record: A DNS Certification Authority Authorization record states which certificate authorities may issue certificates for a domain.