What is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts data transmitted between a user's browser and a website's server, ensuring that sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, and personal data remains secure. In SEO, having an SSL certificate is important because it enables HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) for a website, which is a ranking factor for Google.

Websites that use HTTPS are considered more trustworthy and secure, and search engines may give them a ranking boost over non-secure sites. Additionally, browsers like Chrome flag non-HTTPS sites as "Not Secure," which can deter users from interacting with the site and negatively impact user experience. Implementing an SSL certificate not only protects user data but also builds trust with visitors and improves the overall credibility of a website. The transition to HTTPS should be done carefully to avoid issues like broken links or mixed content, where secure and non-secure elements are combined on the same page.