What is the primary purpose of an SSL certificate?

The primary purpose of an SSL certificate is to identify a website and enable secure connections between the server hosting the website and the user's web browser. SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer, establishes an encrypted connection that protects the data transmitted over the internet, such as personal information, credit card numbers, and passwords. This encryption ensures that any data exchanged between the user and the website remains private and secure from potential eavesdroppers and attacks.

When a user visits a website with an SSL certificate, they typically see a padlock icon in the address bar, indicating that the connection is secure. This builds trust with users, as it signals that the website takes their security seriously and that sensitive information will be protected.

The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of an SSL certificate. Providing a public IP address is related to web hosting and domain name services but does not involve the security or identification of a website. Similarly, website loading optimization and hosting multiple websites on a single server pertain to performance and server management, which are separate from the encryption and identification functions of SSL certificates.