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

:_mod-docs-content-type: CONCEPT
[id="cert-manager-request-methods_{context}"]
= Certificate request methods

There are two ways to request a certificate using the {cert-manager-operator}:

Using the `cert-manager.io/CertificateRequest` object:: With this method a service developer creates a `CertificateRequest` object with a valid `issuerRef` pointing to a configured issuer (configured by a service infrastructure administrator). A service infrastructure administrator then accepts or denies the certificate request. Only accepted certificate requests create a corresponding certificate.

Using the `cert-manager.io/Certificate` object:: With this method, a service developer creates a `Certificate` object with a valid `issuerRef` and obtains a certificate from a secret that they pointed to the `Certificate` object.