Ever wondered how a single web server can host multiple websites, each with its own SSL/TLS certificate, without causing browser errors? The answer is Server Name Indication, or SNI!
Think of SNI as a polite introduction. When your browser initiates a secure connection (HTTPS) with a server, it *first* tells the server *which* website it's trying to reach (e.g., myawesomesite.com). This happens before the server even presents its SSL/TLS certificate.
Without SNI, the server wouldn't know which certificate to use, potentially serving the wrong one and triggering scary security warnings in your browser. This was a real limitation back in the day!
SNI is essential for shared hosting environments and CDNs, enabling efficient use of IP addresses and secure connections for countless websites. It's a small detail with a big impact on how the internet works securely and scalably. So next time you see that padlock in your address bar, remember SNI is working behind the scenes!
