How to Inspect a Website's Certificate Chain in Safari

This article provides a quick, step-by-step guide on how to view and inspect the full SSL/TLS certificate chain of a secure website directly from the Safari web browser. By accessing the security information in the address bar, users can easily verify a website's identity, view the hierarchy of issuing Certificate Authorities, and examine technical encryption details.

Step 1: Navigate to the Secure Website

Open the Safari browser on your Mac and go to the website you wish to inspect. Ensure the website uses a secure HTTPS connection, which is indicated by a padlock icon located inside the address bar (also known as the Smart Search field).

Step 2: Click the Padlock Icon

Click directly on the padlock icon located next to the website's URL in the address bar. A small dialog box will appear, confirming that Safari is using an encrypted connection to communicate with the website.

Step 3: Open the Certificate Viewer

In the dialog box that appears, click the Show Certificate button. This action opens a drop-down panel containing the security credentials for the website.

Step 4: View the Full Certificate Chain

At the top of the certificate panel, you will see a box displaying the full certificate chain. You can click on any of the certificates listed in this box to view their specific summaries. The chain is organized in a strict hierarchy from top to bottom:

  • Root Certificate: Located at the very top, this belongs to the Root Certificate Authority (CA), which is the ultimate trusted entity.
  • Intermediate Certificate(s): Indented directly beneath the root, these belong to intermediate authorities that issue certificates on behalf of the Root CA.
  • Leaf (Server) Certificate: Indented at the bottom of the chain, this is the actual certificate issued specifically for the domain you are currently visiting.

Step 5: Inspect Specific Certificate Details

To see the in-depth technical data for any link in the chain, first click the desired certificate in the top hierarchy box to highlight it. Next, click the arrow next to Details located below the certificate summary.

This expands a scrollable window displaying the full cryptographic information for the selected certificate, including the issuer data, validity period (expiration dates), public key parameters, fingerprints, and serial numbers. When you are finished inspecting the chain, click OK to close the panel.