SSL Certificates are SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates that authenticate websites and allow them to switch from HTTP to HTTPS encryption, protecting the exchange of valuable information visitors send to or receive from a website.
An SSL certificate on your site instills trust in your visitors and keeps user data secure, verifies ownership of your website, and prevents attackers from creating a false version of your site.
When you have an SSL certificate protecting your site, your customers can rest assured that the information they enter on any secured page is encrypted. GoDaddy makes it easy to install your certificate and protect sensitive customer data on your site.
Authentication
SSL certificates verify clients’ ownership of the domain and prevent domain attacks and spoofs.
Encryption
SSL/TLS encryption is possible via the public/private key pairing that facilitates SSL certificates. Clients get the public key to open a TLS connection from the server's SSL certificate.
HTTPS
SSL certificates are required for the HTTPS web address. HTTPS (the secure version of HTTP) appear on websites that have traffic encrypted by SSL/TLS. Plus, in addition to securing user data, HTTPS conveys credibility and trust to the site visitor.
For even more information on SSL certificates, check out this help article.