A more thorough explanation:

A stock certificate is a physical document that proves ownership of a certain number of shares in a company. It is issued by the company to the shareholder and serves as evidence of ownership.

For example, if you own 100 shares of Apple stock, you would receive a stock certificate from Apple that shows you as the owner of those shares. This certificate would include information such as the name of the company, the number of shares owned, and the name of the shareholder.

It's important to note that while the stock certificate is a tangible representation of ownership, it is not the same as the actual stock itself. The certificate is simply a piece of paper that serves as proof of ownership.