How can clients identify the certificate used during an SSL session?

Clients can identify the certificate used during an SSL session by checking the certificate chain within their browser session. When a user visits a website over HTTPS, their browser establishes a secure connection and validates the SSL certificate presented by the server. The certificate contains critical information such as the issuer, validity period, and public key. Browsers typically provide an option to view certificate details through the security settings or connection information.

By examining the certificate chain, clients can see all intermediate certificates leading to a trusted root certificate authority (CA). This process ensures that the server's identity is verified and helps establish trust in the SSL connection. It is essential for users to check the certificate to ensure they are connecting to the legitimate server and to understand the encryption and authentication mechanisms in place.

The other options do not directly provide a way to identify the SSL certificate: checking the server’s IP address does not give information about the SSL certificate itself; reviewing firewall settings might provide some security context but not certificate details; and examining server logs typically requires access to the server and does not help the end-user identify the SSL certificate in use during their session.