# SSL certificate existence

> An SSL/TLS certificate is the digital certificate that lets a website use HTTPS and proves to browsers that the domain is genuine.

- **Check ID:** SSL1
- **Area:** [Tech Stack](https://be1st.ai/glossary/fingerprint)
- **Tool:** [Tech Stack](https://be1st.ai/tools/tech-stack)
- **Page:** https://be1st.ai/glossary/fingerprint/ssl-certificate-existence

## Why it matters

Google has used HTTPS as a ranking signal since 2014, and since 2018 Chrome marks HTTP sites as 'Not Secure' (Firefox does similarly). SSL is essential for user trust and data protection in transit.

## In practice

A site without SSL shows a red warning in the browser, immediately deterring visitors. An e-shop without HTTPS cannot accept card payments. All modern websites must have a valid SSL certificate.

## How be1st checks it

Verification that the domain uses HTTPS with a valid SSL/TLS certificate. Checks HTTP to HTTPS redirect and certificate validity for the given domain.

[Tech Stack](https://be1st.ai/tools/tech-stack), Server & SSL tab.

## Sources

- [HTTPS as a Ranking Signal](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal) (Google)

## Related terms

- [HTTPS (SEO)](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/https): HTTPS is the encrypted version of HTTP. It protects data between the browser and the server, and browsers mark sites without it as not secure.
- [SSL certificate issuer](https://be1st.ai/glossary/fingerprint/ssl-certificate-issuer): The certificate issuer is the certificate authority that signed a website's SSL certificate, such as Let's Encrypt, DigiCert or Sectigo.
- [SSL certificate validity](https://be1st.ai/glossary/fingerprint/ssl-certificate-validity): Certificate validity is the period an SSL certificate is valid for. After its expiry date, browsers show visitors a security warning instead of the site.
- [Vector embeddings](https://be1st.ai/glossary/fingerprint/vector-embeddings): A vector embedding is a list of numbers that represents the meaning of a text, so texts with similar content end up close to each other.
- [Competitor similarity](https://be1st.ai/glossary/fingerprint/competitor-similarity): Competitor similarity is how close the content of two websites is, measured by comparing their vector embeddings.
- [CMS / content management system](https://be1st.ai/glossary/fingerprint/cms-content-management-system): A CMS (content management system) is the software a website is built and edited in, such as WordPress, Drupal or Joomla.