What is an electronic signature?
An electronic signature, or e-signature, is any electronic sound, symbol or process that a person attaches to or associates with a document to show they agree to it. A typed name, a drawn signature, a picture of a handwritten signature or a click on an “I agree” button can all be electronic signatures.
Also called: E-signature, eSignature, Electronic signing
Updated October 14, 2026 · By the PDFZyro team
Are electronic signatures legally binding?
In many countries, yes, for most everyday documents. In the United States, the federal ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), adopted by most states, say a signature or contract can't be denied legal effect just because it's electronic, when the people involved have agreed to do business electronically. In the European Union, the eIDAS Regulation says an electronic signature can't be refused as evidence only because it's electronic, and recognizes three levels: simple, advanced and qualified. A qualified electronic signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten one.
Some documents have special rules, such as wills, some family and property documents, and certain court filings. This page is general information, not legal advice: if you're not sure an electronic signature is accepted for your document, ask a lawyer.
What helps an e-signature hold up
If a signature is ever disputed, what matters is showing who signed and that they meant to. That's why e-signature services record each signer's consent to sign electronically, how they were identified (for example through their email address or an access code) and every step in an audit trail, and seal the finished document so later changes can be detected.
Electronic vs digital signatures
Electronic signature is the broad, legal term. A digital signature is a specific technology: a cryptographic seal, based on a certificate, that shows a file hasn't changed since it was signed. Many e-signature services use a digital signature to seal the signed document. In other words, a typed name on a PDF is an electronic signature; the certificate-based seal that shows whether the file has changed is a digital signature.
How to sign or send for e-signature in PDFZyro
- To sign yourself, open the PDF with Sign, type, draw or upload your signature, place it and download the signed PDF.
- To get others to sign, send a signature request: add each signer's name and email, place their fields and send. Signers don't need an account.
- Each signer agrees to sign electronically first. When everyone has signed, you get the sealed PDF, a certificate of completion and the full audit trail.
Tools and guides
- Guide: How to sign a PDF for freeHow to sign a PDF online for free: create your signature, place it and download, other free ways to sign, getting others to sign, and what makes it valid.
- Request signaturesSend documents for e-signature with a full audit trail.
- Sign PDFAdd your signature, initials and the date to any PDF.
Related terms
- Digital signatureA cryptographic, certificate-based seal that shows who signed a file and that it hasn't changed.
- Audit trailThe time-stamped record of every step in a signing process, from sending to signing.
- Certificate of completionA summary issued with a signed document showing who signed, when and how they were identified.