Glossary

Plain-language definitions for the e-signature and compliance vocabulary.

Audit trail

The record of who did what and when during a signing: views, signatures, timestamps, IP addresses, and consent. It is the evidence that supports enforceability.

eIDAS

The EU regulation governing electronic identification and trust services. It defines three signature levels: simple (SES), advanced (AdES), and qualified (QES).

Electronic signature

An electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed by a person with intent to sign. Defined this way in the US ESIGN Act and UETA.

ESIGN Act

The US Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (2000), which gives electronic signatures and records the same legal effect as their paper equivalents for most transactions.