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# Using an SSL certificate in a Node.js app

> Learn to use an SSL certificate in Node.js for secure HTTPS connections.

This article demonstrates how to use an SSL certificate in a Node.js app. By using an SSL certificate in your app, you can support secure ( [HTTPS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTPS) ) connections.

## Prerequisites

To use an SSL certificate in a Node.js app, you must have the following files:

* Certificate file for the SSL certificate. Typically this file has a *.pem* or *.crt* extension.
* Private key file for the SSL certificate. Typically this file has a *.pem* extension.
* Certificate Authority (CA) file for the SSL certificate. Typically this file has a *.pem* or *.crt* extension.

If you have not already done so, upload these files to the server where your Node.js app is stored.

## Loading the SSL certificate in the app

To load your SSL certificate files in a Node.js app, you must pass their paths as parameters to the **https.createServer()** function.

The following code sample demonstrates how to do this. It creates a basic server that supports secure HTTPS connections on port 9876 by passing the file locations (certificate file, private key file, and CA file) to the **https.createServer()** function:

```javascript theme={null}
const fs = require('fs');
const https = require('https');

const port = 9876;

const certFile = fs.readFileSync('/path/to/certificate.pem');
const caFile = fs.readFileSync('/path/to/ca_certificate.pem');
const keyFile = fs.readFileSync('/path/to/privatekey.pem');

let options = {
   cert: certFile,
   ca: caFile,
   key: keyFile
};

const httpsServer = https.createServer(options, (req, res) => {
    res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
    var message = 'It works!\n',
        version = 'NodeJS ' + process.versions.node + '\n',
        response = [message, version].join('\n');
    res.end(response);
});

httpsServer.listen(port);
```

If you want to run this app, copy the code and paste it into a file. Modify the **certFile**, **caFile**, and **keyFile** variables to point to your own SSL certificate files.

Start the application, and then use your web browser to go to [*https://localhost:9876*](https://localhost:9876). You should see "It works!" in your web browser.

<Warning>
  **Important**

  Make sure you type **https\://** in the browser address bar (not *http\://* ), or the connection will fail.
</Warning>

## More information

* For more information about the **https.createServer()** function, please visit [https://nodejs.org/api/https.html#httpscreateserveroptions-requestlistener](http://nodejs.org/api/https.html#httpscreateserveroptions-requestlistener).
* For more information about the SSL options for the **https.createServer()** function, please visit [https://nodejs.org/api/tls.html#tlscreatesecurecontextoptions](http://nodejs.org/api/tls.html#tlscreatesecurecontextoptions).

## Related articles

* [Connecting to MySQL using Node.js](/docs/connecting-to-mysql-using-node-js)
* [Creating a Node.js application with cPanel using the Node.js Selector](/docs/create-application-with-nodejs-selector)
* [Creating persistent Node.js applications](/docs/making-persistent-node-js-applications)
* [Migrating a Node.js application to Node.js Selector](/docs/migrating-a-node-js-application-to-node-js-selector)
* [Migrating an existing application from Node.js Selector to a manual installation](/docs/migrating-an-existing-application-from-node-js-selector-to-a-manual-installation)
* [Node.js application error message: "Cannot GET" URL](/docs/node-js-application-error-message-cannot-get-url)