Types of Electronic Signatures (With Examples)

What are the types of electronic signatures?

Electronic signatures fall into a few common types, from a typed name to a certificate-backed digital signature. US law defines an e-signature broadly: any "sound, symbol, or process" attached to a record and adopted with intent to sign (Cornell LII, ESIGN). So the format matters less than the intent behind it.

The practical difference between types is how much proof each one carries. A typed name is fast but light on evidence. A digital signature with a certificate ties a verified identity to the document and detects tampering. Here is how the common types compare.

The rest of this guide walks through each type with examples, then maps them to the EU's eIDAS tiers and explains how the US treats them differently.

What are simple electronic signatures?

Simple electronic signatures are the everyday types most people sign with: typed names, drawn marks, scanned images, and click-to-sign actions. They are valid because US law only requires a symbol or process adopted with intent to sign (Cornell LII, ESIGN). They are quick to use and carry no certificate.

Typed and drawn signatures

A typed signature is exactly what it sounds like: you type your name into a field and the platform renders it in a script font. A drawn signature lets you sketch your mark with a mouse, finger, or stylus, much like signing a tablet at a checkout counter.

Scanned and click-to-sign

A scanned signature is an image of your ink signature that you upload and place on a document. Click-to-sign is even lighter: you tick a checkbox or press an "I agree" button. Both are common for low-risk agreements like internal approvals or newsletter consents.

These types lean on supporting evidence rather than cryptography. A solid audit trail, recording the signer's email, IP address, and timestamp, gives them weight if a contract is ever disputed.

What are advanced and biometric signatures?

Advanced signatures add stronger identity proof and tamper detection, and biometric capture is one route to that level. Under the EU's eIDAS rules, an advanced signature must be uniquely linked to the signer, identify them, stay under their sole control, and reveal any later changes (European Commission).

A biometric signature captures more than the visible mark. It records how you sign: the pressure of your stylus, the speed of your stroke, and the rhythm of your hand. That behavioral data is hard to forge, which is why biometric capture can support an advanced-level signature.

In practice, advanced signatures often combine several checks. A platform might verify a government ID, send a one-time code to the signer's phone, and log a consent checkbox. Each layer is added to the audit trail, building a stronger case that the right person signed willingly. For a closer look at how these compare to certificate-based marks, see our guide on electronic signatures versus digital signatures.

What is a digital signature?

A digital signature is a certificate-based type that uses public key infrastructure (PKI) and cryptography to bind a verified identity to a document. It is issued by a trusted certificate authority and is the strongest type of electronic signature for proving authenticity and integrity (European Commission).

Here is what sets it apart. When you apply a digital signature, the software creates a cryptographic hash of the document and encrypts it with your private key. Anyone can verify it with the matching public key. If a single character changes after signing, the verification fails, so tampering is obvious.

A common example is signing a PDF with a certificate stored on a smart card or secure device. Government filings, regulated finance, and cross-border contracts often call for this type. To understand the certificates behind it, read our breakdown of the types of digital signature certificate.

How do the eIDAS tiers work, and how does the US differ?

The EU's eIDAS regulation sorts electronic signatures into three assurance tiers: Simple (SES), Advanced (AES), and Qualified (QES). A Qualified Electronic Signature needs a qualified certificate plus a qualified signing device, and it carries the same legal effect as a handwritten signature across the EU under Article 25 (European Commission).

You can map the common types onto these tiers. Typed, drawn, scanned, and click-to-sign signatures sit at the Simple level. Biometric and identity-verified signatures reach the Advanced tier. A certificate-based digital signature on a qualified device reaches the Qualified tier.

The US works differently. It uses a single legal standard under ESIGN and UETA rather than three tiers. Any of these types can be legally valid as long as there is intent to sign and the parties consent to electronic records (Cornell LII, 15 U.S.C. 7001). So a typed name in the US is not a lesser legal class; it is simply lighter on evidence than a certificate-backed signature.

Which type of electronic signature should you use?

Match the type to the risk and proof you need, not to a single default. For routine, low-risk documents, a simple signature is enough; for high-stakes or regulated agreements, a certificate-based digital signature gives you tamper detection and verified identity (European Commission).

A few practical pairings:

• Internal approvals, NDAs, and consent forms: typed, drawn, or click-to-sign.
• Sales contracts and offer letters: simple signatures backed by a strong audit trail.
• Loan documents and high-value deals: advanced signatures with ID verification.
• Government filings and regulated finance: certificate-based digital signatures.

When you are choosing, weigh how easily a signer could later deny signing against how much friction your recipients will tolerate. A wet signature still has its place in some settings, which we cover in electronic signature versus wet signature. For most online agreements, you can start collecting valid signatures with a free electronic signature tool and step up to certificate-based signing as your needs grow. See the pricing page for where each level fits.