Everything You Need to Know About eSigning

The timestamped history attached to a signed document — who viewed it, when they signed, and what actions they took. Nitro Sign generates an audit trail automatically for every document, so it's available if a signature is ever challenged.

The process of confirming a signer's identity before they can open or sign a document — commonly done through email verification, one-time passcodes, or ID checks. Higher-risk agreements, like real estate contracts, often require stronger authentication than a simple email link.

An electronic credential issued to a signer or organization that ties a digital signature to a verified identity. It's what allows a recipient to confirm a signed document hasn't been altered since signing.

A type of electronic signature that uses cryptographic keys and a digital certificate to verify who signed a document and detect any changes made after signing. It's a more technical, tamper-evident subset of electronic signatures generally.

Any electronic indication that a person intends to sign a document — a typed name, a drawn signature, or a click-to-sign action. It's legally recognized in most countries when paired with proper consent and a record of the signing process. 

The method used to protect a document's contents while it's being sent or stored, so only authorized parties can read it. Nitro Sign encrypts documents both in transit and at rest.

The U.S. federal law that gives electronic signatures the same legal standing as handwritten ones for most interstate and foreign commerce. It's one of the main reasons eSignatures hold up in U.S. courts.

The European Union's regulation governing electronic identification and signatures, setting out different tiers of electronic signature (from basic to qualified) with different legal weight depending on the use case.

Identity verification methods — like email authentication, one-time passcodes, or ID checks — confirm a signer is who they claim to be before they can open or sign a document, and are often required for higher-risk agreements like real estate or financial contracts.

The system of cryptographic keys and certificates that underpins digital signatures, allowing a recipient to verify both the signer's identity and that the document hasn't been tampered with since it was signed.

The person completing an electronic signature on a document. A single document can have one signer or several, depending on the workflow and signing order set up.

A U.S. state-level law, adopted by most states, that gives electronic signatures the same legal effect as handwritten signatures for the transactions it covers. It works alongside the ESIGN Act rather than replacing it.

The full signing journey for a document in Nitro Sign — from uploading and adding signature fields, to routing it to recipients in the right order, to storing the completed, audit-trailed file.