python requests.exceptions.sslerror

Understanding "python requests.exceptions.sslerror"

When working with Python requests library for sending HTTP/HTTPS requests, you may encounter an exception called "requests.exceptions.sslerror". This error occurs when there is a problem with the SSL certificate validation while making HTTPS requests.

Causes of SSL Error in Python Requests

  • The certificate of the server you are trying to connect to is invalid or expired.
  • The certificate does not match the domain name of the server you are trying to connect to.
  • The certificate chain is incomplete or not trusted by your operating system.

Solutions to Fix SSL Error in Python Requests

There are several ways to fix the SSL error in Python requests. Here are a few:

1. Ignore SSL Certificate Verification

You can ignore SSL certificate verification by setting the "verify" parameter to False when making the request. This is not recommended as it can compromise security, but it can be helpful for testing purposes.


import requests

response = requests.get('https://example.com', verify=False)

2. Verify SSL Certificate

You can verify the SSL certificate by providing the path to a CA bundle file that contains trusted root certificates. You can also set the "cert" parameter to a client-side certificate if required by the server.


import requests

response = requests.get('https://example.com', verify='/path/to/certfile.pem', cert=('/path/to/clientcert.pem', 'password'))

3. Update Operating System's Root Certificates

If the SSL certificate is valid but not trusted by your operating system, you can update your operating system's root certificates. This can be done by downloading and installing the latest root certificate updates for your operating system.

4. Use a Different Library

If none of the above solutions work, you can try using a different library like urllib3 or httplib2 that may have better SSL certificate validation mechanisms.

Conclusion

SSL errors in Python requests can be frustrating to deal with, but they can be fixed using one of the solutions mentioned above. It is important to ensure that SSL certificate validation is not compromised for the sake of convenience.