-
A signature is a handwritten (and sometimes stylized) depiction of someone's name (or some other identifying mark) that the person writes on documents as a proof of identity and will. It acts as a seal.
The traditional function of a signature is evidential: it is to give evidence of (a) the provenance of the document (identity); and (b) the intention (will) of an individual with regard to that document. For example, the role of a signature in many consumer contracts is not to provide evidence of the identity of the contracting party, but rather to provide evidence of deliberation and informed consent. Signatures may be witnessed and recorded in the presence of a Notary Public to carry additional legal force. On legal documents, an illiterate signatory can make a "mark" (often an "X" but occasionally a personalized symbol), as long as the document is countersigned by a literate witness.
There are many other terms which are synonymous with 'signature'. One is 'John Hancock', named after the first of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. A signature of a famous person is sometimes known as an 'autograph', and is typically written on its own or with a brief note to the recipient, rather than providing authentication for a document.
Special signature machines exist that are capable of automatically reproducing an individual's signature. These are typically used by people required to sign many documents, for example celebrities, heads of state or CEOs.
Several cultures whose languages use writing systems other than alphabets do not share the Western notion of signatures per se, in that the "signing" of one's name results in a written product no different than the act of "writing" one's name in the standard way. To write or to sign involves the same written characters. Two examples including Chinese and Japanese; in Japanese culture, people typically use name-seals or inkan with the name written in tensho script (seal script) (also see Calligraphy).
A user of e-mail and newsgroups can set custom text known as a signature block to be automatically appended to his messages. This text usually includes a name, contact info, and sometimes quotes and ASCII art; some web sites also allow graphics to be used. These are not related to electronic signatures or digital signatures.
See also
