What is the difference between a visual signature and a digital certificate?

The image of the signature on the PDF serves solely as visual information for humans. The only element that is legally and technically binding is the digital certificate, which is cryptographically embedded in the machine-readable data of the PDF document. A mere image without a certificate has little evidentiary value as an electronic signature.

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Other FAQs

  • Why is the audit trail so important for compliance managers?

    The audit trail provides a complete, admissible-in-court history of the entire signature process. It documents when and by whom the…

  • Is it possible to verify multiple digital signatures on a

    Yes. When multiple people sign a document one after another (sequential workflow), the PDF contains a history of what are…

  • How long is a digital signature valid and verifiable?

    Standard signatures often can no longer be validated correctly after the underlying certificate expires (usually after 2 to 3 years).…

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