// Module included in the following assemblies:
//
// * security/cert_manager_operator/index.adoc

:_mod-docs-content-type: CONCEPT
[id="cert-manager-about_{context}"]
= About the {cert-manager-operator}

[role="_abstract"]
The `cert-manager` project introduces certificate authorities and certificates as resource types in the Kubernetes API, which makes it possible to provide certificates on-demand to developers working within your cluster. The {cert-manager-operator} provides a supported way to integrate `cert-manager` into your {product-title} cluster.

The {cert-manager-operator} provides the following features:

* Support for integrating with external certificate authorities
* Tools to manage certificates
* Ability for developers to self-serve certificates
* Automatic certificate renewal

[IMPORTANT]
====
Do not attempt to use both {cert-manager-operator} for {product-title} and the community cert-manager Operator at the same time in your cluster.

Also, you should not install {cert-manager-operator} for {product-title} in multiple namespaces within a single OpenShift cluster.
====
