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Certificate Decoder

Decode and analyze PEM-encoded X.509 SSL/TLS certificates. View subject, issuer, validity, extensions, and fingerprints

Your CI pipeline just failed with a cryptic certificate error, and you need to know what's inside that PEM file right now. Paste a certificate and see every field decoded: subject, issuer, validity dates, SANs, key algorithm, signature, extensions, and chain details.

Runs in your browser and files never uploadedMore web toolsJump to full guide

Related reading

  • Understanding SSL/TLS Certificates: How HTTPS Keeps the Web Secure14 min read

Initializing in your browser…

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Generate self-signed SSL/TLS certificates for local development and testing. Includes Subject Alternative Names support

Certificate Decoder: a worked example

A TLS handshake is failing and you suspect the certificate is for the wrong host or already expired, but all you have is a PEM blob.

Pasted

-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
MIIDdzCCAl+gAwIBAgIE…(truncated)…
-----END CERTIFICATE-----
Certificate Decoder produces

Decoded fields

Subject:     CN=api.example.com
SAN:         api.example.com, www.example.com
Issuer:      CN=R3, O=Let's Encrypt
Valid from:  2024-01-10
Valid until: 2024-04-09  ← EXPIRED 36 days ago
Key:         RSA 2048 · Sig: SHA256-RSA

The decoder parses the certificate's ASN.1/DER structure entirely in your browser and surfaces the fields that actually break handshakes: the validity window and the Subject Alternative Names (modern clients ignore CN and match only SAN). Here the answer is immediate, the cert expired, so renew it; the host names were fine.

What is Certificate Decoder?

Your CI pipeline just failed with a cryptic certificate error, and you need to know what's inside that PEM file right now. Paste a certificate and see every field decoded: subject, issuer, validity dates, SANs, key algorithm, signature, extensions, and chain details.

How to use

  1. 1Paste a PEM-encoded certificate (the block starting with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----).
  2. 2Review the decoded fields displayed in structured sections.
  3. 3Check validity dates, SANs, and key details.
  4. 4Identify any warnings about expiration, weak keys, or missing fields.

Key features

  • Full X.509 field decoding
  • Subject Alternative Name listing
  • Key algorithm and size display
  • Validity period with expiration warning
  • Extension parsing (key usage, EKU, AIA, CDP)
  • Certificate chain analysis
  • PEM and Base64 input support

Common use cases

  • Debugging TLS handshake failures

    Decode the certificate to verify the SANs include the hostname you're connecting to.

  • Certificate renewal verification

    Confirm a renewed certificate has the correct validity dates, key size, and extensions before deployment.

  • Compliance auditing

    Check certificates across your infrastructure for weak algorithms, short keys, or missing required extensions.

  • Vendor certificate inspection

    Examine certificates provided by third parties before installing them in your trust store.

What gets decoded

X.509 certificates pack a lot of structured data into a Base64-encoded blob. This decoder parses all of it: the subject and issuer distinguished names, serial number, validity period, public key algorithm and size, Subject Alternative Names (SANs), key usage, extended key usage, authority and subject key identifiers, CRL distribution points, OCSP responder URLs, and certificate policies. It also identifies common issues like expired certs, weak key sizes, and mismatched SANs.

Frequently asked questions

What format does the certificate need to be in?

PEM format, the text block surrounded by -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- and -----END CERTIFICATE----- markers.

Can I decode a certificate chain?

Yes. Paste the full chain and each certificate in the chain will be decoded separately.

Is my certificate data sent to a server?

No. Decoding happens entirely in your browser.

Private by design

This runs as client-side JavaScript. Keys, tokens, payloads, and other inputs never leave your device.