What is an SSL certificate?
In short
- An SSL certificate is a small credential that proves a site controls its domain and switches on HTTPS encryption.
- It is what lets the browser show a padlock instead of a not-secure warning.
- NudgeHost issues and renews it for you, on custom domains too.
An SSL certificate, more precisely a TLS certificate, has two jobs. It vouches that the server controls the domain it claims, and it carries the keys the browser and server use to set up an encrypted connection. Together those two jobs make encrypted HTTPS links possible. A padlock in the browser means it found a valid certificate for that exact domain and negotiated encryption with it. A missing or mismatched certificate causes the warning pages people have learned to fear.
Getting a certificate used to mean buying one, proving ownership by hand, and renewing it before it lapsed, which somehow always happened at a bad moment. NudgeHost does all of that for you. Every link is served with a valid certificate, so a file you publish as a PDF travels encrypted with no setup. The same applies the moment you add a custom domain.
Renewal is automatic, which matters because an expired certificate breaks a link as surely as a deleted file does. Free links get a certificate like every other link, and the plans with custom domains carry the same automatic one onto your own address. You never buy a certificate or keep track of a renewal date.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy or renew an SSL certificate?
No. NudgeHost issues and renews certificates automatically for every link, custom domains included, so they never lapse.
What is the difference between SSL and TLS?
TLS is the modern version of the protocol, but the name SSL stuck. When people say SSL certificate today, they almost always mean a TLS certificate.
Why did a link show a certificate warning elsewhere?
Browsers warn when a certificate is missing, expired, or issued for a different domain. NudgeHost serves links with a valid, current certificate to avoid this.
Put it into practice.
Drop a file and get a shareable link in seconds. Free, no card needed.