---
title: What Is an Electronic Signature? E-Signature Defined | Aavenir
url: https://aavenir.com/glossary/e-signature/
description: An electronic signature is a way to sign a document electronically to show agreement, recognized in law in most countries, including the United States under.
updated: 2026-11-07
---

[Home](https://aavenir.com/) / [Resources](https://aavenir.com/resources/) / [Glossary](https://aavenir.com/glossary/) / Electronic signature Glossary

# What is an electronic signature?

An electronic signature is a way to sign a document electronically to show agreement, recognized in law in most countries, including the United States under the ESIGN Act and the European Union under eIDAS.

## How electronic signature works

The signer reviews the document online, confirms their identity, usually by email and sometimes with a code, and signs. The signature platform records who signed, when and from where, and seals the document so any later change can be detected.

## Signing order

Contract packages often need several signatures across departments and companies. Setting the signing order up front makes sure each person signs in sequence and the final document is complete.

## How Aavenir handles it

[Contractflow](https://aavenir.com/solutions/enterprise-contract-management-software/) sends contracts for signature through DocuSign and other providers, lets users set the signing sequence and files the signed copy back on the contract record.

## Keep reading

[Contract approval Contract approval is the step where the right people review and authorize a contract before signature, based. Read more](https://aavenir.com/glossary/contract-approval/)[Contract lifecycle management Contract lifecycle management is the process of managing a contract from the first request through drafting,. Read more](https://aavenir.com/glossary/contract-lifecycle-management/)[Master service agreement A master service agreement is a contract that sets the general terms for a long running relationship, so that. Read more](https://aavenir.com/glossary/master-service-agreement/)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

## Common questions

###

### Is an electronic signature legally binding?

In most countries, yes, for most contract types, including the United States under the ESIGN Act and the European Union under eIDAS. Some documents still need a wet signature or a notary, so check local rules. [See Contractflow](https://aavenir.com/solutions/enterprise-contract-management-software/).

###

### What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?

Electronic signature is the broad term for signing electronically. A digital signature is one type that uses a certificate to prove the signer’s identity and detect any change to the document after signing. [Read about contract approval](https://aavenir.com/glossary/contract-approval/).

###

### Can a contract system send documents for signature?

Yes. A contract system sends the approved document to each signer in the right order through a signature provider such as DocuSign, then files the signed copy back on the contract record. [Read about contract lifecycle management](https://aavenir.com/glossary/contract-lifecycle-management/).

Have a question we have not answered? [Ask the Expert](https://aavenir.com/contact/)

Schedule a demo

## See your contracts run on one record.

- **1****A 30 minute walkthrough**Built around your team, whether that is procurement, legal, IT or finance.

- **2****Your contracts, not ours**Bring a few sample agreements and watch Aavenir AI extract and review them.

- **3****ServiceNow or standalone**We show the deployment that fits the systems you already run.

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