Understanding E-Signature Terminology: A Complete Guide

Entering the world of electronic signatures can be overwhelming. Between legal acronyms and cryptographic terms, it’s easy to get lost. This guide breaks down the essential terminology you need to know when choosing an e-signature solution like WPsigner.

ESIGN Act

The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. Passed by the US Congress in 2000, it grants electronic signatures the same legal status as handwritten signatures for interstate and foreign commerce.

UETA

The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. Adopted by 49 states, it harmonizes state laws regarding electronic signatures. Together with ESIGN, it forms the legal backbone of e-signatures in the US.

eIDAS

The Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services regulation. It is the EU’s comprehensive standard for electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions.

Technical Security

PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)

A framework for managing digital certificates and public-key encryption. It binds a digital identity to a user, ensuring that the person signing is who they say they are.

SHA-256 Hashing

A cryptographic hash function that creates a unique “fingerprint” of a document. If even a single pixel of the document changes after signing, the hash changes completely, invalidating the signature. This is how we ensure Tamper-Proof integrity.

Audit Trail

A detailed log of every action taken on a document. It records the Who (IP address, Email), When (Timestamp), and What (Viewed, Signed) of the transaction. A robust audit trail is crucial for legal defensibility.

RFC 3161 Timestamping

An advanced standard for proving that data existed at a specific point in time. WPsigner uses trusted Time Stamping Authorities (TSA) to seal documents, so the validity is independent of your server’s system clock.

Conclusion

Understanding these terms helps you appreciate the robustness of a solution like WPsigner. By combining strict legal compliance (ESIGN/UETA) with advanced cryptographic security (PKI/SHA-256), we provide a platform that is not just convenient, but defensible and secure.