{"id":30214,"date":"2021-03-04T10:05:33","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T09:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.viafirma.com\/?post_type=faq&p=30214"},"modified":"2024-05-10T09:18:52","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T07:18:52","slug":"electronic-signature-formats","status":"publish","type":"faq","link":"https:\/\/www.viafirma.com\/en\/faqs\/electronic-signature-formats\/","title":{"rendered":"Electronic Signature formats"},"content":{"rendered":"
Depending on your specific needs or business scenarios, you may first want to choose between different e-signature format options. Viafirma offers support to both basic and most advanced formats.<\/p>\n

Basic formats<\/h2>\n

These formats provide all necessary elements to create an advanced or recognized electronic signature:<\/p>\n

XML Signature<\/h2>\n

It is a specification developed under the W3C<\/a> that allows the signature (fully or partially) of documents using a standard XML notation. XML Signatures offer some advantages over traditional signatures as it\u2019s based on plain text format its structure is readable.<\/p>\n

XML and PKCS#7 are functionally interrelated, but XML is more extensible and is oriented towards signing XML documents.<\/p>\n

XML signatures can be used to sign data\u2013a\u00a0resource<\/strong>\u2013of any\u00a0type, typically XML documents, but anything that is accessible via\u00a0URL<\/a>\u00a0can be signed. An XML signature used to sign a resource outside its containing XML document is called a\u00a0detached<\/strong> signature; if it is used to sign some part of its containing document, it is called an\u00a0enveloped<\/strong>\u00a0signature; if it contains the signed data within itself it is called an\u00a0enveloping<\/strong>\u00a0signature<\/p>\n

PDF-Signature<\/h2>\n

Embedded signature in PDF documents<\/strong> according to ISO-32001 standards.<\/p>\n

The fact that the signature is embedded in a PDF document format brings this format closer to the ordinary citizen. In other words, an embedded signature in a PDF can be viewed by a user that has a PDF reader<\/strong>, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader<\/strong>. They are used for scenarios in which the end user or users involved in the process are natural people<\/p>\n

CMS (Cryptographic Message Syntax) \/ PKCS#7<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0Cryptographic Message Syntax\u00a0(CMS) is the IETF\u2019s\u00a0standard for cryptographically protected messages.<\/p>\n

Signature binary file used for signature, authentication, hashing and encryption of documents. Primarily designed for exchanging information from e-mails. Uses the PKCS-7 standard. This format also incorporates time stamping information obtained by a TSA (Timestamping Authority).<\/p>\n

Advanced formats<\/h2>\n

The advanced e-signature formats that viafirma supports are:<\/p>\n