Once you receive the SSL Certificate, you install it on your server. You also install an intermediate certificate that establishes the credibility of your SSL Certificate by tying it to your CA’s root certificate. The instructions for installing and testing your certificate will be different depending on your server.
https://www.digicert.com/ssl.htm
SSL allows sensitive information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and login credentials to be transmitted securely. Normally, data sent between browsers and web servers is sent in plain text—leaving you vulnerable to eavesdropping.
https://www.digicert.com/ssl.htm
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a server and a client—typically a web server (website) and a browser; or a mail server and a mail client (e.g., Outlook).
https://www.digicert.com/ssl.htm
Typically, SSL is used to secure credit card transactions, data transfer and logins, and more recently is becoming the norm when securing browsing of social media sites. SSL Certificates bind together: A domain name, server name or hostname. An organizational identity (i.e. company name) and location. An organization needs to install the SSL Certificate onto its web server to initiate secure sessions with browsers.
http://www.globalsign.com/en/ssl-information-center/what-is-an-ssl-certificate/
The certificate request is an electronic document that contains the web site name, contact email address, company information and the public key (for security reasons the private key is not part of the request and is not sent to the certificate authority).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSL_certificate
SSL Certificates have a key pair: a public and a private key. These keys work together to establish an encrypted connection. The certificate also contains what is called the “subject,” which is the identity of the certificate/website owner. To get a certificate, you must create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) on your server. This process creates a private key and public key on your server.
https://www.digicert.com/ssl.htm
In cryptography, a public key certificate (also known as a digital certificate or identity certificate) is an electronic document used to prove ownership of a public key.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSL_certificate
SSL Certificates are small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organization’s details. When installed on a web server, it activates the padlock and the https protocol (over port 443) and allows secure connections from a web server to a browser.
http://www.globalsign.com/en/ssl-information-center/what-is-an-ssl-certificate/
Certificates are an important component of Transport Layer Security (TLS, sometimes called by its older name SSL, Secure Sockets Layer), where they prevent an attacker from impersonating a secure website or other server. They are also used in other important applications, such as email encryption and code signing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSL_certificate
SSL Certificate Details. To view the details of an SSL Certificate, go to a secure site, click on the padlock and select “View Certificate”. All browsers are slightly different, but the Certificate always contains the same information. To view the actual contents of the Certificate click the Details tab:
http://www.globalsign.com/en/ssl-information-center/what-is-an-ssl-certificate/
what is ssl certificate
Secure Sockets Layer certificates are small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organization’s details. SSL, Secure Sockets Layer is small  data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organization’s details.