In an X.509 certificate's subject field, the attribute abbreviation CN stands for _____ Name.
Answer
Common
Explanation
### Why this is right
The Common Name (CN) identifies the certificate subject, and for a website the material describes it as typically being a hostname, such as `www.example.com` or `api.example.com`. The hostname tells users and software which server identity the certificate is intended to represent.
### The concept
When creating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), OpenSSL asks for subject information such as country, organization, and Common Name. The requested subject is later carried into the issued certificate. A hostname in the CN is identity information; it is not a cryptographic key and does not prove identity by itself. The CA's signed certificate connects that identity information to the public key, and a verifier must still assess the certificate and its issuer.
### Terms
- **CN**: Common Name. A certificate subject field that commonly contains a website hostname.
- **CSR**: Certificate Signing Request. A signed request that supplies a subject and public key to an issuer.
### Remember
For a website certificate, the CN is typically the host's name, not a person's name or a key.
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