When using a certificate authority system to create digital certificates, it is often configured to follow established standards. X509 certificate standards are the current method used by most certificate authority systems. These standards refer to the way the digital certificate is generated and the location of information contained within each of your certificates.
An X509 Certificate May Be Used by Some Organizations to Refer to a Digital Certificate
Some organizations may refer to a digital certificate as an X509 certificate. This just means that the certificate was created following the current established standards and criteria. The types of information contained in the actual certificate will include required data, as well as optional data, should the organization choose to include it. The data will also be organized in such a manner that it will be in a set location, within the certificate, based on the current standard.