# What are digital signatures?

* A digital signature is a cryptographic method to express agreement and validate the authenticity of a digital document.
* Digital signatures allow parties to sign documents digitally, while providing an improved degree of authenticity compared to standard electronic signatures.
* When coupled with strong identification standards, digital signatures can be equivalent to legally binding, traditional, wet-ink signatures.
* In the UK and the European Union, digital signatures are considered legally binding when signatory identities have been verified by “Trust Service Providers”