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DER File - What is a .der file and how do I open it?
Learn about .DER files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is a DER file? A DER file is a digital certificate saved in the Distinguished Encoding Rules (DER) format. It contains a binary representation of the certificate. DER files are commonly used to store X.509 certificates in public cryptography.
More Information Web servers use digital certificates to establish that a website is authentic and legitimate. When a user visits a certified website in their web browser, the web server passes the site's digital certificate to the browser. After the browser verifies the certificate, it shows the associated website. (If a browser cannot verify a certificate, it may instead show a page that says "This website's certificate is expired.") Some digital certificates are saved in the DER format. Web admins, responsible for maintaining websites and web servers, are most likely to encounter and use DER files. Web admins can create DER files using OpenSSL, a secure network communication toolkit. NOTE: Though most DER files are used as website digital certificates, DER files can also be used for other identification purposes.
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.DER File Extension
DER Digital Certificate
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
3.6 | 57 Votes |
What is a DER file?
A DER file is a digital certificate saved in the Distinguished Encoding Rules (DER) format. It contains a binary representation of the certificate. DER files are commonly used to store X.509 certificates in public cryptography.
More Information
Web servers use digital certificates to establish that a website is authentic and legitimate. When a user visits a certified website in their web browser, the web server passes the site's digital certificate to the browser. After the browser verifies the certificate, it shows the associated website. (If a browser cannot verify a certificate, it may instead show a page that says "This website's certificate is expired.")
Some digital certificates are saved in the DER format. Web admins, responsible for maintaining websites and web servers, are most likely to encounter and use DER files. Web admins can create DER files using OpenSSL, a secure network communication toolkit.
NOTE: Though most DER files are used as website digital certificates, DER files can also be used for other identification purposes.
How to open a DER file
You can use OpenSSL (multiplatform) to view the contents of a DER file. To do so, use the following command:
openssl x509 -inform der -in YourFileName.der -text -noout
How to convert a DER file
You can use OpenSSL (multiplatform) to convert DER certificates to other certificate formats, including:
Open over 400 file formats with File Viewer Plus . Free Download
Programs that open or reference DER files
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X
Windows
Microsoft Edge
Free
Google Chrome
Free
Mozilla Firefox
Free
OpenSSL
Free
Mac
Apple Safari
Included with OS
Google Chrome
Free
Mozilla Firefox
Free
Apple Keychain Access
Included with OS
OpenSSL
Free
Linux
Google Chrome
Free
Mozilla Firefox
Free
OpenSSL
Free
Category: Web Files
Updated: October 5, 2022