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# certificate

Returns the public authentication certificate associated with a user identity.

```
var certificate: SecCertificate? { get }
```

## Return Value

The public authentication certificate, or `nil` if none exists.

## Discussion

The Collaboration framework supports certificate-based authentication in addition to passwords. If a certificate is stored for a user identity, it will be the default method of authentication.

When a .Mac account is associated with a user identity, the authentication certificate is automatically downloaded from the .Mac servers.

---

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