Electronic Signature
Any electronic representation of a signature — including a typed name, drawn image, or click-to-agree — used to indicate agreement or approval.
An electronic signature is any electronic symbol, sound, or process that a person attaches to a document to indicate their intent to sign or agree. The definition is deliberately broad. A typed name at the bottom of an email, a finger-drawn scrawl on a touchscreen, a checkbox labelled "I agree", and a scanned image of a handwritten signature are all electronic signatures. What matters legally is the intent — the person made a deliberate choice to associate their mark with the document.
Electronic signatures gained legal recognition in the United States with the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act, 2000) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA). In the European Union, the eIDAS Regulation (2016) created a harmonised framework with three tiers: simple, advanced, and qualified electronic signatures.
For the vast majority of everyday use cases — signing a rental agreement, approving a vendor contract, authorising an employee document — a simple electronic signature placed in a PDF is legally sufficient and widely accepted.
Types of electronic signature
Electronic signatures exist on a spectrum of assurance, from a simple typed name to a government-issued qualified certificate:
**Simple Electronic Signature (SES)** — The baseline: a typed name, an image of a signature, a checkbox tick, or a click. Legally valid in most jurisdictions for standard commercial agreements. No identity verification beyond the signer's own assertion.
**Advanced Electronic Signature (AES)** — Uniquely linked to the signer, capable of identifying them, created under their sole control, and linked to the document in a way that detects changes. In practice, this usually means a digital signature backed by a certificate. Required in the EU for certain professional and financial documents.
**Qualified Electronic Signature (QES)** — An AES created with a Qualified Electronic Signature Creation Device (QSCD) and backed by a qualified certificate issued by a government-accredited trust service provider. The only type that has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature in all EU member states.
How electronic signatures are placed on PDFs
In the context of PDF editing, an electronic signature is typically placed in one of three ways:
**Type to sign** — The user types their name and the software renders it in a handwriting-style font. The result is an image of their name in cursive, placed on the page as a visual element.
**Draw to sign** — The user draws their signature using a mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen. The drawing is captured as a vector path or rasterised image and placed on the page.
**Upload image** — The user provides a photograph or scan of their handwritten signature, which is placed as a transparent PNG on the page.
All three methods produce the same output at the PDF level: an image overlay on the page. The signature visually resembles a handwritten signature but is not cryptographically linked to the document. A separate audit trail (email records, timestamp logs, IP address) provides the legal evidence of signing when needed.
Legal validity and enforceability
Electronic signatures are legally valid in over 60 countries. The key factors that determine enforceability are:
**Intent** — Did the person deliberately sign? A checkbox labelled "I agree" or a signature field explicitly completed by the user satisfies this.
**Consent** — Did both parties agree to conduct the transaction electronically? Most online workflows satisfy this implicitly.
**Attribution** — Can you link the signature to the specific person? An email address, login session, or IP address log strengthens attribution. Qualified certificates provide the strongest attribution.
**Integrity** — Has the document changed since it was signed? A digital signature provides cryptographic integrity. A plain image signature does not — anyone with the PDF could modify it. Locking the PDF after signing, using a time-stamped audit log, or sending via a signature platform adds integrity evidence.
Electronic signatures in PDFTheGuide
PDFTheGuide's signature tool lets you create an electronic signature in three ways: type your name in a handwriting font, draw with your mouse or touch, or upload an image of your signature. The result is placed on the page as a transparent image overlay.
The signatures produced are graphical — they look like handwritten signatures and are appropriate for everyday documents where a visual signature is expected. They are not PKI-backed digital signatures and do not provide cryptographic tamper-evidence. For documents requiring an Advanced or Qualified Electronic Signature under eIDAS, use a dedicated e-signature platform that integrates with a qualified trust service provider.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electronic signature legally binding?
Yes, in most jurisdictions. In the US, the ESIGN Act and UETA make electronic signatures legally valid for most commercial contracts. In the EU, eIDAS gives legal effect to all three signature tiers. The key requirement is demonstrable intent — the person must have deliberately chosen to sign.
What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?
An electronic signature is any electronic mark of intent — a typed name, image, or checkbox. A digital signature is a specific, cryptographically secure type of electronic signature that uses PKI certificates to verify identity and detect document tampering. All digital signatures are electronic signatures, but not all electronic signatures are digital.
Can I use a drawn signature image as a legal signature?
Yes, for most everyday documents. A drawn or typed signature placed on a PDF is legally sufficient for standard contracts, authorisations, and approvals in most jurisdictions. For high-value, regulated, or cross-border EU transactions requiring an Advanced or Qualified signature, you need a certificate-backed digital signature.
Does placing a signature image on a PDF lock the document?
No. Adding a signature image as an overlay does not prevent further edits. To protect the document after signing, you should also apply PDF permissions to restrict editing, or use a PKI digital signature which will be invalidated if the document changes.
How do I sign a PDF without printing it?
Open the PDF in an editor like PDFTheGuide, use the signature tool to type, draw, or upload your signature image, position it on the signature line, and download the signed PDF. No printing or scanning required.