Can you explain what SSL or TLS certificates are and what they are used for?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are cryptographic protocols that ensure secure communication between a client and a server over the internet.

SSL/TLS certificates are digital documents that verify the authenticity of a website or server and allow encrypting transmitted data. They contain a public key and information about the owner of the certificate, signed by a trusted certification authority (CA).

They are used for:

• Data encryption to protect against interception.
• Server authentication so the user is sure they are connecting to the real site.
• Data integrity.

For example, when connecting to a site via HTTPS, the browser checks the certificate, establishes a secure connection, and encrypts data.