certificat

Certificat is a term used in many languages to denote a document that attests to the truth of a fact, achievement, or entitlement. In English, the corresponding word is certificate. The concept spans civil records, educational credentials, professional qualifications, and digital credentials, with cognates such as certificat or certificado found in various languages.

Physical certificates cover a wide range of records, including birth, marriage, and death certificates; academic diplomas and transcripts; professional licenses; property deeds; and awards. They are issued by government agencies, educational institutions, professional bodies, or other authorities and typically identify the holder, state the fact or status, and bear official signatures, seals, or watermarks.

Digital certificates are electronic credentials used to verify identity and enable secure communications. They are issued within a public key infrastructure (PKI) by trusted certification authorities. A digital certificate contains the subject’s identity, the issuer, the validity period, and a digital signature from the issuer, and is often encoded as X.509. They underpin technologies such as SSL/TLS, email security, code signing, and VPNs. Certificates can be revoked if private keys are compromised, with revocation information available via certificate revocation lists (CRLs) or Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP).

Issuance typically involves verification of the applicant’s identity or authority and is governed by rules and standards. Legal recognition varies by jurisdiction. Organizations may maintain registries and enforce privacy and security requirements. Global standards include ITU-T X.509 for certificates and RFC 5280 for certificate profiles, while the CA/Browser Forum Baseline Requirements govern public HTTPS certificates.