A Developer ID certificate is a type of distribution certificate you use to distribute your app outside the Mac App Store while assuring users that your app comes from a trusted developer. Developer ID-signed apps will launch on macOS when Gatekeeper is enabled and apps from identified developers are allowed to launch. Developer ID certificates are issued only to members of the Apple Developer Program or Apple Developer Enterprise Program.
There are two types of Developer ID certificates: a Developer ID Application is used to sign apps, and a Developer ID Installer is used to sign installer packages.