Category
SSL, TLS, and DNS
SSL, TLS, and DNS cover how browsers and clients find hosts and establish encrypted connections, including certificates, hostnames, and resolution.
Why this category matters
An expired certificate or a broken DNS record can take a healthy application offline for every visitor. These layers fail quietly until someone notices.
Recommended learning order
- SSL certificateSSL certificate is a digital certificate commonly used to enable HTTPS for a hostname.
- TLS certificateTLS certificate is a certificate used to authenticate a host during a TLS handshake.
- SSL certificate monitoringSSL certificate monitoring is watching certificates for upcoming expiration and validity problems.
- DNSDNS is the system that resolves human hostnames into addresses machines use.
- DNS resolutionDNS resolution is the process of looking up records for a hostname.
Foundational terms
- SSL certificateSSL certificate is a digital certificate commonly used to enable HTTPS for a hostname.
- SSL certificate monitoringSSL certificate monitoring is watching certificates for upcoming expiration and validity problems.
- Certificate expirationCertificate expiration is the moment after which a certificate should no longer be trusted.
- DNSDNS is the system that resolves human hostnames into addresses machines use.
- HTTPS certificateHTTPS certificate is the certificate presented by a site serving HTTPS.
Advanced terms
- Certificate chainCertificate chain is the sequence of certificates from a server cert up to a trusted root.
- Hostname mismatchHostname mismatch is when a certificate does not cover the hostname being visited.
- TLS handshakeTLS handshake is the negotiation that establishes a secure TLS session.
- Managed TLSManaged TLS is automatic certificate provisioning and renewal for a hostname you control.
- CNAME recordCNAME record is a DNS record that aliases one hostname to another.