---
title: Digital signatures
description: A digital signature is a way to verify the identity of a person or entity who originates an electronic document and ensure that the message has not been altered.
component: pingfederate
version: 13.1
page_id: pingfederate:introduction_to_pingfederate:pf_digi_signat
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/13.1/introduction_to_pingfederate/pf_digi_signat.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: July 5, 2022
---

# Digital signatures

A digital signature is a way to verify the identity of a person or entity who originates an electronic document and ensure that the message has not been altered.

Both SAML, including security token service (STS) tokens, and WS-Federation electronic documents use digital signatures.

Handling a digital signature involves message signing, signature and certificate validation, and signing-policy coordination between connection partners.