An electronic signature, or e-signature, is data that is logically associated with other data and which is used by the signatory to sign the associated data.
This type of signature has the same legal standing as a handwritten signature as long as it adheres to the requirements of the specific regulation under which it was created
Electronic signatures are a legal concept distinct from digital signatures, a cryptographic mechanism often used to implement electronic signatures.
While an electronic signature can be as simple as a name entered in an electronic document, digital signatures are increasingly used in e-commerce and in regulatory filings to implement electronic signatures in a cryptographically protected way.