certificate type

The certificate type helps to identify a certificate in your developer account and Accounts preferences.

To sort certificates by type in your developer account, go to Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles, click All under Certificates, and click the Type column heading.

Type

Purpose

APNs Auth Key

Generate server-side tokens as an alternative to certificates for your notification requests.

Apple Push Services

Establish connectivity between your notification service and APNs to deliver remote notifications to your app.

iOS Development

Run an iOS, tvOS, or watchOS app on devices and use certain app services during development.

iOS Distribution

Distribute your iOS, tvOS, or watchOS app on designated devices for testing or to submit it to the App Store.

Mac Development

Enable certain app services for a macOS app during development and testing.

Mac App Distribution

Sign a macOS app before submitting it to the Mac App Store.

Mac Installer Distribution

Sign and submit a Mac Installer Package, containing your signed app, to the Mac App Store.

Developer ID Application

Sign a macOS app before distributing it outside the Mac App Store.

Developer ID Installer

Sign and distribute a Mac Installer Package, containing your signed app, outside the Mac App Store.

Apple Pay

Decrypt app transaction data sent by Apple to a merchant/developer.

Merchant Identity

Authenticate you to Apple Pay Servers.

Pass Type ID

Sign and send updates to passes in Wallet.

VoIP Services

Establish connectivity between your notification server and APNs to alert background VoIP apps of incoming activity.

WatchKit Services

Establish connectivity between your notification server and APNs to update ClockKit complication data.

Website Push ID

Sign and send updates for Websites.

Note: In your keychain, the certificate name contains a hint to the type, and includes the team name and Team ID.