Article 2

Definitions For the purpose of this Directive: 1. "electronic signature" means data in electronic form which are attached to or logically associated with other electronic data and which serve as a method of authentication; 2. "advanced electronic signature" means an electronic signature which meets the following requirements: it is uniquely linked to the signatory; it is capable of identifying the signatory; it is created using means that the signatory can maintain under his sole control; and it is linked to the data to which it relates in such a manner that any subsequent change of the data is detectable; 3. "signatory" means a person who holds a signature-creation device and acts either on his own behalf or on behalf of the natural or legal person or entity he represents; 4. "signature-creation data" means unique data, such as codes or private cryptographic keys, which are used by the signatory to create an electronic signature; 5. "signature-creation device" means configured software or hardware used to implement the signature-creation data; 6. "secure-signature-creation device" means a signature-creation device which meets the requirements laid down in Annex III; 7. "signature-verification-data" means data, such as codes or public cryptographic keys, which are used for the purpose of verifying an electronic signature; 8. "signature-verification device" means configured software or hardware used to implement the signature-verification-data; 9. "certificate" means an electronic attestation which links signature-verification data to a person and confirms the identity of that person; 10. "qualified certificate" means a certificate which meets the requirements laid down in Annex I and is provided by a certification-service-provider who fulfils the requirements laid down in Annex II; 11. "certification-service-provider" means an entity or a legal or natural person who issues certificates or provides other services related to electronic signatures; 12. "electronic-signature product" means hardware or software, or relevant components thereof, which are intended to be used by a certification-service-provider for the provision of electronic-signature services or are intended to be used for the creation or verification of electronic signatures; 13. "voluntary accreditation" means any permission, setting out rights and obligations specific to the provision of certification services, to be granted upon request by the certification-service-provider concerned, by the public or private body charged with the elaboration of, and supervision of compliance with, such rights and obligations, where the certification-service-provider is not entitled to exercise the rights stemming from the permission until it has received the decision by the body.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-10-28 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.