Short definition: The sequence of certificates that validate a website's identity, starting from the server certificate up to a trusted root certificate.
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What it is
A digital certificate chain (or chain of trust) links your website's TLS/SSL certificate to a root certificate authority (CA). Browsers use this chain to verify whether a site is authentic and trustworthy.
Why it matters
If the chain is incomplete or misconfigured, users see browser warnings like "certificate not trusted." This causes trust loss, potential SEO penalties, and blocks secure HTTPS connections even when the server certificate is valid.
How to reduce risk
- Always include intermediate certificates in your server configuration
- Use reputable certificate authorities
- Periodically check certificate expiration dates
- Test your SSL chain using external scanners