Digital signature vs electronic signature
People use 'digital signature' and 'electronic signature' interchangeably, but they're different things. Understanding the distinction helps you choose the right solution for your documents.
Electronic signatures: the broad category
An electronic signature is any electronic indication of intent to agree — a typed name, a drawn signature on a touchscreen, clicking 'I agree,' or even a voicemail. It's the umbrella term covering all methods of signing electronically.
Digital signatures: the cryptographic subset
A digital signature is a specific type of electronic signature that uses PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) and cryptographic certificates. It mathematically proves who signed the document and that it wasn't altered. Think of it as electronic signatures with extra verification.
Which one do you need?
For most business documents — contracts, NDAs, offer letters, consent forms — a simple electronic signature with an audit trail is legally sufficient and far more practical. Digital signatures with certificates are typically needed for government filings, healthcare records in certain jurisdictions, and high-security financial transactions.
Legal standing comparison
Both electronic and digital signatures are legally binding under ESIGN Act and UETA in the US, and under eIDAS in the EU. The key difference is the level of identity verification — digital signatures provide stronger non-repudiation through cryptographic proof.
Frequently asked questions
Is a digital signature more secure than an electronic signature?
Digital signatures provide stronger cryptographic verification, but electronic signatures with proper audit trails (timestamps, IP addresses, document hashes) are legally sufficient and secure for most business use cases.
Does SignOwl use digital or electronic signatures?
SignOwl uses electronic signatures with PAdES-B-B digital signature standards applied to the PDF. This means your documents get both the convenience of e-signatures and the cryptographic integrity of digital signatures.
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