---
title: Certificates
description: Learn about certificates in PingOne, including their usage, details, and how they work with key pairs to secure communication and establish trust.
component: pingone
page_id: pingone:settings:p1_certificates
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingone/settings/p1_certificates.html
revdate: December 1, 2025
keywords: ["certificate", "certificates", "certificate management", "certificate usage", "certificate details"]
---

# Certificates

Certificates are digital credentials that PingOne uses to establish trust, verify identity, and secure communication with applications and services. They contain identifying information and details that help ensure data is exchanged safely and reliably. Certificates work alongside key pairs, a shared public and private key to enable secure data encryption.

The following table shows the default fields and descriptions for certificates in PingOne:

| Field               | Description                                                                                          |
| ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Usage Type**      | The primary usage for this certificate, such as signing and verification, encryption, SSL, issuance. |
| **Subject DN**      | Used to identify the certificate owner.                                                              |
| **Serial Number**   | Unique identifier that is assigned to a certificate.                                                 |
| **Issuer**          | Authority that issued the certificate.                                                               |
| **Issued Date**     | The date that the certificate became valid.                                                          |
| **Expiration Date** | The date that the certificate expires.                                                               |