SSL questions

From: Andrew Bullock (trullockNO_at_SPAMyahoo.com)
Date: 12/30/04 

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 00:36:28 GMT

Hi,

I'm pretty good with html and php, been doing it for years however I
have only just begun trying to use SSL and secure browsing.

I've just written a shopping cart system and come to the payment part
and realised I know nothing!

All ive managed to deduce is that i need some kind of certificate and
https hosting.

Could someone give me a brief (or preferrably in depth) overview of the
process required for me to implement a credit card payment system

I dont need exact details, just something along the lines of an
explaination as to how ssl works.

Thanks

Andrew Bullock