SSL Definition

The SSL definition stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It’s a protocol that is used to establish secure communication through the Internet and protect your information. When you visit a website, SSL creates an encrypted link between the web server and your browser.

The website owners are required to obtain an SSL certificate to assure their websites are secure to use. The certificate is a small digital certificate that authenticates the identity of the website. This certificate for websites is signed and issued by Certificate Authority (CA). When you visit a website, if it displays the message “Not Secure” in front of the address bar, it means that the website cannot be trusted and not secure to use. This happens when the website is not SSL-protected.

Also, SSL certificates have an impact on SEO and search. Search Engines tempt to rank websites with SSL certificate higher than those who don’t have it.

How does SSL work?

When your computer connects to a website that uses SSL, the computer’s web browser requests the website to provide its identification. Then the web server that hosts the website, sends a copy of its SSL certificate to your computer. The web browser checks if the provided SSL certificate can be trusted and verifies its validity. If the certificate is trustworthy, the browser sends a message to the web server to initiate a connection. Then the web server responds with an acknowledgment to establish a secure connection. This connection is called an SSL session and it allows you to exchange encrypted data between your computer and the webserver.