SSL / TLS
The technology that protects information sent between a visitor and a website. People still commonly say “SSL,” though modern certificates use TLS.
BEGINNER GLOSSARY
SSL words in plain English.
Search a term and get the short version without server jargon.
HTTPS
The secure version of HTTP. A website using HTTPS has a valid certificate and encrypts traffic between the visitor and the site.
SSL Certificate
A digital certificate that proves a website is allowed to use HTTPS for a particular domain name.
DNS
The system that tells the internet where a domain name should go. Think of it like the address book for websites.
A Record
A DNS record that points a domain name to an IPv4 server address, such as the Shared IP Address from a hosting company.
CNAME
A DNS record that points one hostname to another hostname. A common example is pointing www to the root domain.
MX Record
A DNS record used for email delivery. Changing website DNS does not usually mean you should delete your MX records.
TXT Record
A text-based DNS record often used for email security, verification, or other services. Do not delete unrelated TXT records just because you are changing website hosting.
Shared IP Address
The server IP your hosting company gives you. Multiple websites can share the same IP while cPanel keeps their files separated by domain.
cPanel
A web hosting control panel used to manage domains, files, SSL, cron jobs, email, databases, and other hosting features.
Document Root
The folder where the server expects to find a particular website’s files. If this points to the wrong folder, the wrong site may open.
File Manager
The cPanel tool used to upload, edit, copy, move, and manage website files without using FTP.
.htaccess
A configuration file used by Apache web servers. It can control redirects such as sending HTTP visitors to HTTPS.
301 Redirect
A permanent redirect that tells browsers and search engines a URL should automatically go somewhere else.
Cron Job
A scheduled command on a server. CertSage can use a cron job to check for and renew certificates automatically.
CertSage
An ACME client that can request a free Let’s Encrypt certificate and install it into cPanel on supported hosting setups.
Let’s Encrypt
A certificate authority that issues free TLS certificates through the ACME protocol.
ACME
The automated protocol used by tools such as CertSage and Certbot to prove control of a domain and request certificates.
HTTP-01 Challenge
A certificate verification method where a special temporary file is made available on the website so the certificate authority can confirm control of the domain.
Root Domain vs. www
example.com is the root domain. www.example.com is a separate hostname. If you want both to work securely, DNS and the certificate must cover both.
DNS Propagation
The time it takes for DNS changes to be seen everywhere because old DNS information can remain cached for a while.
Incognito / Private Window
A browser window that helps rule out some cached files, redirects, and old login state when testing a website change.
404 Error
The server was reached, but the requested page or file was not found.
403 Error
The server found the location but is refusing access, often because of permissions, access rules, or directory settings.
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