SSL
3 synonyms for SSL, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An older protocol for encrypting traffic between two computers over a network, now superseded by TLS. The name survives in everyday use, and "SSL certificate" is still the common term for the file that proves a site's identity and enables an encrypted connection.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
secure sockets layer
TLS
transport encryption
How to use SSL
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
SSL certificate
install SSL
SSL error
free SSL
SSL expired
Strictly speaking the protocol in use today is TLS; SSL persists as a loose everyday label, especially in the phrase "SSL certificate". Take "an" before it in speech.
Etymology
An initialism of secure sockets layer.
Full origin of SSL →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SSL and TLS?
TLS is the successor to SSL. The older SSL versions are obsolete and no longer considered secure, and modern connections use TLS. The word SSL survives out of habit, mostly in the phrase "SSL certificate", which in practice means a TLS certificate.
What is the difference between SSL and HTTPS?
HTTPS is the web protocol; SSL, now really TLS, is the encryption layer it runs over. A site serves pages over HTTPS by using a certificate and the encryption that certificate enables.
What happens when an SSL certificate expires?
Browsers can no longer confirm the site's identity, so they show a full-page warning before letting anyone continue. The site itself is still there; the certificate simply needs renewing and reinstalling.
