What is SSL Certificates?
An SSL/TLS certificate proves your website's identity and enables encrypted HTTPS connections. Browsers show a padlock icon when a valid certificate is present; without one, they warn users the site is unsafe.
In plain English
An SSL certificate is like a notarized ID for your website. When your browser connects, the site shows its certificate — issued by a trusted authority — proving it's really who it claims to be. The ID also unlocks an encrypted channel so no one can eavesdrop on the conversation.
How it works
A Certificate Authority (CA) like Let's Encrypt verifies your domain ownership and issues a certificate containing your domain name and a public encryption key. Your server presents this certificate during the TLS handshake. Browsers verify it against a list of trusted CAs built into the OS.
Why it matters for AI-built apps
All modern apps require HTTPS — browsers block mixed content, Google penalizes HTTP sites in search rankings, and APIs reject insecure connections. Most managed deployment platforms provision and renew SSL certificates automatically. The risk comes when using custom domains or self-managed servers where certificates can expire silently.
Best practices
Use Let's Encrypt for free, auto-renewing certificates — never pay for basic domain validation certs. Set up certificate expiry monitoring so you're alerted 30 days before expiry. Enforce HTTPS-only by redirecting all HTTP traffic to HTTPS at the load balancer or CDN level.
Frequently asked questions
Do platforms like Vercel handle SSL for me?
Yes — Vercel, Netlify, Railway, and most modern platforms provision and auto-renew certificates for both their default domains and custom domains you add.
What happens when an SSL certificate expires?
Browsers display a full-page security warning and block access for most users. Set up monitoring alerts at 30 and 7 days before expiry to avoid this.
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