Information, Computer and Network Security Terms Glossary and Dictionary

CSR: Certificate Signing Request

Certificate Signing Request(CSR), also known as certification request, is a message sent from an applicant to a certificate authority in order to apply for a digital identity certificate, in public key infrastructure systems. Before creating a CSR, the applicant first generates a key pair, keeping the private key secret. The CSR contains information identifying the applicant (such as a directory name in the case of an X.509 certificate), and the public key chosen by the applicant. The corresponding private key is not included in the CSR, but is used to digitally sign the entire request. The CSR may be accompanied by other credentials or proofs of identity required by the certificate authority, and the certificate authority may contact the applicant for further information.

Related Terms

CSR: Certificate Signing Request