What is an electronic signature?

In today's world, almost everything is done online. We shop online, we bank online, and we even sign documents online. But how can you sign a document online? After all, isn't a signature supposed to be physical?

The answer is yes and no. A physical signature is indeed supposed to be physical-but an electronic signature can be just as legal and binding. In fact, in many cases, an electronic signature is actually preferred. Let's take a look at what an electronic signature is and how it works.

What Is an Electronic Signature?

An electronic signature (also known as an e-signature) is a digital version of your traditional handwritten signature. You can create an electronic signature using a variety of methods, including a mouse, a touchscreen, or even your finger if you're using a smartphone or tablet. Once you have created your electronic signature, you can use it to sign documents electronically.

How Does It Work?

When you use an electronic signature to sign a document, that document becomes legally binding just as if you had signed it with a pen and paper. In order for an electronic signature to be binding, however, there are certain requirements that must be met. For example, the person signing the document must be able to verify their identity and the document must contain all of the necessary information (such as the date).

Why Use It?

There are many reasons why you might want to use an electronic signature instead of a traditional handwritten signature. For one thing, it's more convenient-you can sign documents from anywhere in the world without having to print them out and physically sign them. Additionally, using an electronic signature can help speed up the process of getting documents signed since they don't have to be physically mailed back and forth. Finally, some people prefer using an electronic signature because it's more secure-with a traditional handwritten signature, someone could forge your name on a document without your knowledge.

As you can see, there are many reasons why you might want to use an electronic signature instead of a traditional handwritten signature. If you're doing business online or need to get documents signed quickly and securely, then e-signatures are definitely worth considering!