The buyer who receives the document also receives a copy of Jane’s public key. If the document changes after signing, the digital signature is invalidated.Īs an example, Jane signs an agreement to sell a timeshare using her private key. The signature is also marked with the time that the document was signed. The resulting encrypted data is the digital signature. The mathematical algorithm acts like a cipher, creating data matching the signed document, called a hash, and encrypting that data. When a signer electronically signs a document, the signature is created using the signer’s private key, which is always securely kept by the signer. One key is public, and one key is private. PKI requires the provider to use a mathematical algorithm to generate two long numbers, called keys. Digital signature solution providers, such as DocuSign, follow a specific protocol, called PKI. In addition, some industries also support specific standards that are based on digital signature technology.ĭigital signatures, like handwritten signatures, are unique to each signer. In particular, the use of digital signature technology for eSignatures varies significantly between countries that follow open, technology-neutral eSignature laws, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and those that follow tiered eSignature models that prefer locally defined standards that are based on digital signature technology, including many countries in the European Union, South America, and Asia. However, there are differences in purpose, technical implementation, geographical use, and legal and cultural acceptance of digital signatures versus other types of eSignatures. Both digital signatures and other eSignature solutions allow you to sign documents and authenticate the signer. The category includes digital signatures, which are a specific technology implementation of electronic signatures. The broad category of electronic signatures (eSignatures) encompasses many types of electronic signatures.
What’s the difference between a digital signature and an electronic signature?