SSL certificates are small data files that digitally link a cryptographic key to the details of an organization.
When installed on a web server, it enables the padlock and the HTTPS protocol and allows secure connections from a web server to a browser.
Typically SSL is used to protect credit card transactions, data transfers, and logins, and more recently it is becoming the norm to protect browsing of social media sites.SSL certificates bind:A domain name, server name, or hostname.An organizational identity (that is, the name of the company) and a location.Note: As of August 2020, most browsers will no longer display the green lock and address bar to indicate Extended Validation.An organization needs to install the SSL certificate on its webserver to start a secure session with browsers.
Once a secure connection is established, all web traffic between the web server and the web browser will be secure.When a certificate is successfully installed on your server, the application protocol (also known as HTTP) will change to HTTPS, where the "S" stands for "secure.