Add digital signatures to your PDF documents. Easily sign documents with our free online tool for personal or business use without installing any software. No Signup Required.
Add digital signatures to your PDF documents securely and easily.
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The concept of document signatures dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, where clay tablets were marked with unique seal impressions. Digital signatures emerged in the 1970s with the development of public-key cryptography. In 2000, the U.S. E-Sign Act gave electronic signatures the same legal standing as handwritten ones, revolutionizing business transactions. Interestingly, studies show that organizations adopting digital signatures reduce document processing time by an average of 80% and save approximately $20 per document in handling costs. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated adoption, with digital signature usage increasing by over 350% in 2020 alone. Today, the environmental impact is significant—digital signatures save an estimated 2.5 billion sheets of paper annually, equivalent to preserving about 300,000 trees.
PDF signatures operate on two distinct levels: visual representations and cryptographic security. The visual component is embedded as a specialized annotation object within the PDF structure, while the cryptographic element involves creating a hash of the document that's encrypted with the signer's private key. Modern browser-based PDF signers leverage the Web Crypto API to generate these secure hashes without requiring server-side processing. When implementing visual signatures, the tool must modify the PDF's content stream to incorporate the signature image while preserving the document's structure. The most sophisticated implementations use incremental updates to the PDF, adding only the necessary objects rather than rewriting the entire file—a technique that maintains document integrity while minimizing memory usage during the signing process.
A digital signature in a PDF is an electronic version of a handwritten signature that verifies the authenticity of the document and the identity of the signer. It provides a secure way to sign documents electronically.
Digital signatures help verify document authenticity, ensure document integrity, and streamline approval processes. They're widely accepted for legal and business purposes, eliminating the need to print, sign, and scan documents.
Yes, you can upload PDF files up to 10MB in size. For larger files, we recommend compressing them first.
Our tool allows you to draw your signature directly on the screen, type your name in various font styles, or upload an image of your handwritten signature. You can adjust the size, position, and appearance of your signature.
Yes, we take data security seriously. This tool processes your files entirely in your browser - your PDFs are never uploaded to our servers. This means your sensitive documents never leave your device, ensuring complete privacy and security.
While our tool provides a convenient way to add signatures to documents, the legal validity depends on your jurisdiction and specific requirements. For documents requiring legally binding electronic signatures with verification, you may need to use specialized services that comply with regulations like eIDAS in Europe or ESIGN in the US.
No, we don't store any of your files. Since the processing happens entirely in your browser, your files never reach our servers. Once you close the browser tab or navigate away, all processed data is automatically cleared from your browser's memory.