PDF toolsThis is general information, not legal advice. Rules depend on the country and the type of document; when it matters, ask whoever will receive the document what they accept.
Electronic signature
An electronic signature is any electronic way of showing that you agree to something: an image of your handwritten signature on a PDF, typing your name at the bottom of an email, ticking an "I agree" box, signing with a finger on a tablet at a delivery. The law in many countries recognises these as valid for a wide range of everyday agreements. In the United States, the ESIGN Act of 2000 and the UETA give electronic signatures the same standing as handwritten ones for most transactions.
What a simple electronic signature doesn't do is protect the document. Anyone could, in principle, copy the signature image onto another PDF or change the text after it was signed.
Digital signature
A digital signature is a specific technology. The signing software computes a fingerprint of the document and encrypts it with the signer's private key, backed by a certificate that identifies them. Anyone opening the PDF can check two things: who signed it, and whether a single byte has changed since. In PDF viewers this shows up as a signature panel with a green tick, or a warning if the file was altered.
The European picture: eIDAS
In the EU, the eIDAS regulation defines three levels:
- Simple electronic signature: any electronic signature, such as a drawn signature on a PDF.
- Advanced electronic signature: uniquely linked to the signer, able to identify them, and able to detect any later change to the document. In practice, a digital signature with a certificate.
- Qualified electronic signature: an advanced signature created with a certified device and a qualified certificate from an approved provider. It has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature across the EU.
What our tool does
Sign PDF creates a simple electronic signature: it places an image of your signature on the page. That's what most "sign and return" requests need, from rental forms to quotes. It is not a certificate-based digital signature. If you're asked for an "advanced", "qualified" or "certified" signature, use a signing service or the tools your bank, government portal or employer provides.
A practical tip
After signing a form with a drawn signature, flatten it before sending. The answers and signature become part of the page, which makes accidental changes less likely, though, as above, it's not tamper-proof.