Identity

When you install an SSL certificate and enable HTTPS, you are telling the world that they can trust your site's identity. Once that secure channel of communication is opened between the client and server, both can have confidence that the conversation is to whom they expect.

Both the client and the server establish a communication channel by verifying each other's identity. The certificate is used to verify this identify. Each part of the conversation requires a token, known only to the client and server.