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Definition
Certificate based authentication is a security method that verifies a user or device using a digital certificate instead of a password. The certificate proves identity through cryptographic keys issued by a trusted authority.

Why it matters
This approach removes reliance on passwords, reducing the risk of phishing, credential theft, and reuse. It is commonly used in high security environments because authentication is tied to a trusted device or identity, not something easily stolen or guessed.

Example use case
A corporate laptop authenticates to a company network using an installed digital certificate, granting access without requiring the user to enter a password.