One type of digital certificate is a PKI certificate. This type of digital certificate often contains a public key and is used to verify and authenticate users connecting over public networks, including the internet. During the authentication process, the public key in the certificate is compared against the private key, which can be contained on a server when it is a general purpose authentication tool, like when logging into your online banking website.
A PKI Certificate Can Be Used to Sign Software and Code
The use of a PKI certificate can be used for a variety of applications and purposes. You can use this type of digital certificate for software and code signing. In this type of situation, the certificate is applied when the software and code are reviewed and approved by the developer. Since the certificate is secure, others viewing the certificate will see that it has been signed by the developer, and know that they can trust the application.