What is the purpose of an SSL certificate?

The purpose of an SSL certificate is primarily to validate the identity of a website and to encrypt data transmitted between the web server and the client. This process is crucial for ensuring secure communication over the internet. When a web browser establishes a secure connection with a web server that has an SSL certificate, the SSL protocol initiates a handshake process, which involves validating the certificate. This validation confirms that the website is legitimate and that users are not connecting to a malicious site pretending to be the real one.

Once the identity of the website is verified, the SSL certificate enables encryption, ensuring that any data transmitted between the web server and the client (such as login credentials, personal information, and payment details) is secure and cannot be easily intercepted by third parties. This protects users from data breaches and enhances their trust in online transactions.

In contrast, the other choices focus on different roles that are not directly related to the core functions of an SSL certificate. Storing user credentials, monitoring website traffic, and analyzing website performance deal with other aspects of web management and security but do not encompass the specific validation and encryption functions that an SSL certificate provides.