What is an SSL certificate?
By Mark Boreland ·
In short
- An SSL certificate is a small credential that proves a site controls its domain and enables HTTPS encryption.
- It is what lets the browser show a padlock instead of a not-secure warning.
- On NudgeHost it is issued and renewed for you, including on custom domains.
An SSL certificate, more precisely a TLS certificate, does two jobs. It vouches that the server really controls the domain it claims, and it carries the keys that let the browser and server set up an encrypted connection. Together those enable what HTTPS means, the secure version of the web. When a browser shows a padlock, it has checked a valid certificate for that exact domain and negotiated encryption with it. A missing or mismatched certificate is what triggers the alarming warning pages people learn to fear.
Historically, getting a certificate meant buying one, proving ownership by hand, and remembering to renew it before it lapsed, which it always seemed to do at the worst moment. NudgeHost removes all of that. Every link is served with a valid certificate, so a contract you PDF link generator is encrypted end to end with no setup, and the same is true the moment you add a custom domain. The certificate is the quiet thing that makes HTTPS possible in the first place.
Renewal is automatic, which matters because an expired certificate breaks a link as surely as a deleted file would. Hosting is free to start, and a paid plan adds custom domains that carry the same automatic certificate onto your own address. For someone sharing a file, the certificate is invisible, and that is the goal. It is secure by default, with nothing to buy or babysit.
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, including custom domains, so they never lapse.
What is the difference between SSL and TLS?
TLS is the modern version of the protocol, but the term SSL stuck in common use. When people say SSL certificate today they almost always mean a TLS certificate.
Why did a link show a certificate warning elsewhere?
That happens when a certificate is missing, expired, or does not match the domain. NudgeHost links are served with a valid, current certificate to avoid this.
Related tools
Other things you can do on NudgeHost.
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