An electronic signature is any electronic way of showing that you agree to a document: typing your name, drawing it with a finger, ticking a box that says you accept, or clicking a button labelled "Sign". It does the job a pen does on paper. What makes it a signature is not how it looks but what it means: you intended to sign, and the signature is tied to this document.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
What the law says it means
Two of the most cited laws define it in almost the same way.
In the United States, the federal ESIGN Act (2000) defines an electronic signature as "an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record."
In the European Union, the eIDAS Regulation (No 910/2014) describes it as data in electronic form attached to or logically associated with other electronic data, "which is used by the signatory to sign."
Notice what both leave out: there is no required look, no required technology and no required software. A sound can be a signature. So can a click. Three things matter instead:
- Intent. The person meant to sign.
- Association. The signature is linked to the specific document.
- Attribution. It can be shown to be that person's act.
The UK, Canada and most other countries follow the same idea, each in its own words.
Types of electronic signatures
Typed
The signer types their name, often shown in a script font. It is the most common type, quick on any device and easy to read.
Drawn
The signer draws with a mouse, a trackpad or a finger on a phone. It looks the most like a handwritten signature, which some people find reassuring, though the law gives it no extra weight.
Uploaded image
A photo or scan of a handwritten signature, placed on the document. Convenient for someone who signs often, but an image on its own proves little about who placed it, so it matters what else is recorded alongside.
Click to accept
Ticking "I agree" or pressing "Accept" on a website. Every online terms-of-service acceptance is an electronic signature of this kind.
Signatures with stronger identity checks
eIDAS sets out three levels:
- A simple electronic signature (SES): any of the types above.
- An advanced electronic signature (AdES): uniquely linked to and capable of identifying the signer, created with data under the signer's sole control, and linked to the document so any later change can be detected.
- A qualified electronic signature (QES): an advanced signature created with a certified device and backed by a qualified certificate from an approved provider. In the EU it has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature.
Most everyday business documents, from contracts to offer letters and quotes, are signed with simple electronic signatures. Advanced and qualified signatures are used where a law or a counterparty requires them.
Electronic signature examples from everyday life
- A freelancer signs a client's service agreement from an emailed link, typing their name.
- A tenant signs a lease on their phone, drawing their signature with a finger.
- A new employee ticks a box to acknowledge the company handbook in an HR system.
- A customer clicks "I accept" on a quote and pays a deposit in the same step.
- A delivery driver's handheld captures your signature on its screen.
Each one is an electronic signature. Whether each is enough depends on what is being signed and what evidence is kept. For the documents each sector signs, and the risks to watch in each, see e-signatures by industry.
What makes one hold up
Because almost anything can be an electronic signature, the question in a dispute is rarely "was this a signature?" but "can you show who signed, what they saw and when?" Good e-signature tools answer that with a record of their own:
- Consent to sign electronically, captured before signing.
- An audit trail: who opened the document, when, from which IP address, and when each field was completed.
- A sealed copy: the final PDF with a fingerprint (a hash), so any later change is detectable.
In Salsox, for example, the signer confirms they agree to sign electronically before they see the fields, and every step is recorded in the document's audit trail.
Our guide on how to create a legally binding electronic signature goes through these requirements in detail.
Electronic signature or digital signature?
The two terms are often used as if they were the same. They are not. A digital signature is a cryptographic technique: a mathematical seal made with a certificate, which shows who applied it and that the file has not changed since. An electronic signature is the broader legal idea of signing electronically. A digital signature can be used to make an electronic signature, or to seal a document after people have signed it. We explain the difference, and why PDF readers sometimes show a signature as "untrusted", in electronic vs digital signatures.
When paper is still required
Electronic signatures are accepted for most contracts, but not for everything. Common exceptions include wills, some family law documents, certain court filings and, in some countries, property deeds or documents that need a witness or notary. Our comparison of electronic and wet signatures covers where ink is still the rule.
Try one
The quickest way to understand an electronic signature is to use one. You can sign a PDF for free in your browser without an account, or create a free Salsox account to send a document to someone else and watch the audit trail fill in. Paid plans are on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the simplest definition of an electronic signature?
Any electronic mark or action a person uses to show they agree to a document, such as typing their name, drawing it on a screen or clicking an "I agree" button, linked to that document.
Is a typed name an electronic signature?
Yes. A typed name counts as an electronic signature when it is attached to or associated with the document and the person typed it intending to sign.
Is an electronic signature the same as a digital signature?
No. A digital signature is a cryptographic technique that can be used to make an electronic signature, and to show a file has not changed. Every digital signature used to sign is an electronic signature; most electronic signatures are not digital signatures.
What can't be signed electronically?
It depends on the country and the document. Wills, some family law documents, certain court papers and some property deeds are common exceptions. Check the rule for your document before relying on an e-signature.
General information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country and by document and change over time; for a specific case, consult a qualified lawyer.