E-Signature
In short: An electronic signature , or e-signature, is any electronic stamp, such as a sign, sound, or symbol, that replaces a physical signature in the official…
An electronic signature, or e-signature, is any electronic stamp, such as a sign, sound, or symbol, that replaces a physical signature in the official acceptance of a document or contract. A typed name, a signature drawn on a touchscreen, or a click on an I agree button can all serve as e-signatures.
Why it matters
E-signatures let contracts be signed remotely in minutes instead of by post, and many jurisdictions give them legal effect, often with stricter requirements for important documents. They are not the same as digital signatures, although the two are often confused. A digital signature is a cryptographic technique: a private key signs the data, and anyone with the matching public key can check that the signature is genuine and that the data has not been changed. Every blockchain transaction is authorized this way, and e-signature services often use digital signatures and document hashes to make signed contracts tamper-evident.
Example
A freelancer receives a contract as a PDF, opens it on a phone, and draws a signature with a finger. The signing service records the time, the email address used, and a hash of the final document. If anyone later edits even one word, the hash no longer matches, so the change can be detected.