Definitions for "Digital signatures"
methods of assuring genuineness of digital (not handwritten) signatures, and preventing alteration
signatures for electronic documents. They establish identity and therefore can be used to establish legal responsibility and the complete authenticity of whatever they are affixed to -- in effect, creating a tamper-proof seal.
A Digital signature is a code that can be attached to any electronically transmitted message. As with a written signature, it is used to verify the identity of the sender. Digital signatures are an important element of electronic commerce and are essential for authentication. Of course, to work the signature must be distinct and impossible to copy, and there are various encryption techniques to deal with this effectively.