What Is The Common Name?

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  1. Quick Answer
  2. Understanding Common Name
  3. Modern Usage and SAN
  4. Historical Context
  5. Current Standards
  6. Common Name Requirements
    1. Website Certificates
  7. Best Practices
    1. Domain Configuration
    2. Wildcard Certificates
  8. Common Issues and Solutions
    1. Certificate Name Mismatch
    2. Multiple Domain Requirements
  9. Security Considerations
    1. Certificate Validation
    2. Monitoring and Maintenance
  10. Future Trends
  11. Implementation Checklist

Quick Answer

A Common Name (CN) is a field within a digital certificate that identifies the specific domain name or entity the certificate is issued to. For SSL/TLS certificates, it typically matches the website’s domain name (e.g., www.example.com).

Understanding Common Name

The Common Name is a crucial component of X.509 digital certificates that serves as the primary identifier for the certificate holder. Its purpose and usage vary depending on the certificate type. For SSL/TLS certificates, it must exactly match the website’s domain name. In client certificates, it contains the individual’s name, while code signing certificates display the organization or developer name.

Modern Usage and SAN

While Common Name was historically the primary identifier, modern certificates now rely more heavily on the Subject Alternative Name (SAN) field. This evolution addresses previous limitations and provides better security and flexibility.

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