What is an electronic signature?
Q: What is an electronic signature?
A: An electronic signature is an electronic record of an agreement between two parties, used to show that they both agree on something.
Q: How long have electronic signatures been around?
A: Electronic signatures have been recognized since the mid-19th century in common law jurisdictions, and since the 1980s for faxed signatures.
Q: What are some ways in which an electronic signature can be done?
A: An electronic signature can use digital signatures, certificates, and hash codes from public-key cryptography to protect data or legally identify the person who agreed. It also often includes a timestamp to show when it was made.
Q: Is there a specific format that must be used for data signed with an electronic signature?
A: No, there is no requirement that the data signed has a specific format - it can be used for any kind of data.
Q: What does "electronic signature" mean legally?
A: Legally, "electronic signature" has a different meaning than the technical term "digital signature" used in cryptography. In many countries, certain types of electronic signatures are considered equivalent to handwritten signatures for legal purposes.
Q: Are there standards as to what an electronic signature should look like?
A: Yes, many countries have standards as to what such a signature must look like - examples include eIDAS in the European Union, NIST-DSS in the United States or ZertES in Switzerland.
