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E-Signature vs. Digital Signature vs. Wet Signature
Wet signature
A wet signature is the traditional kind: pen on paper, physically written by hand. It's called "wet" because of the ink.
Electronic signature
An electronic signature is any electronic mark, symbol, or process used with the intent to sign — a typed name, a drawn signature on a touchscreen, or an uploaded image, among other forms. See our full explainer in what is an electronic signature?
Digital signature
A digital signature is a specific cryptographic method — using public-key infrastructure — that verifies both the signer's identity and that the document hasn't been altered since signing. It's a more technical, tamper-evident implementation, and it happens to be one way of creating a legally electronic signature.
| Term | What it is | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Wet signature | Pen and paper | In-person signing, older paperwork |
| Electronic signature | Any electronic mark showing intent to sign | Everyday contracts, forms, emails |
| Digital signature | Cryptographically verified signature | High-security documents, identity-sensitive filings |
For the vast majority of everyday signing needs — contracts, forms, agreements — a simple electronic signature like the ones you can create with SignScribe is legally sufficient. See are electronic signatures legal? for the specific laws that make that true.