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# eSignature concepts

> Provides an overview of the main objects used to enable eSignature, how they work, and how they are organized.

## eSignature concepts

The Docusign eSignature API is based around a core model of five objects:

* [Envelopes](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes), created individually or from [Templates](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/templates)
* [Documents](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/documents), contained by envelopes
* [Recipients](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/recipients), specified by envelopes
* [Tabs](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs), assigned to recipients and associated with areas of agreement (such as signature areas) in documents

The following diagram shows the overall structure of how each object is related and how they fit together.

![Docusign objects](/_fern-files/_img/564444748b3805cda30d9bbd32fcb8ee61e7cd9f88e3d8844cfd9e76fe1cbcd9.webp)

Docusign provides many features and options for how you can use these objects to implement eSignature in your integration, which are described in this section alongside the objects they are associated with.

## Next steps

* Learn more about the core objects: [Envelopes](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes), [Templates](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/templates), [Documents](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/documents), [Recipients](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/recipients), and [Tabs](/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs).
* Explore features associated with the core objects, such as sending envelopes in bulk and composite templates.
* See [How-to guides](/docs/esign-rest-api/how-to) demonstrating how to use each object in eSignature scenarios.
* See definitions and descriptions for [Docusign objects](/platform/concepts) across the entire Docusign platform.

> Provides an overview of the main objects used to enable eSignature, how they work, and how they are organized.

## Docs

- [Envelopes](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes.md): Learn about envelope objects, how they fit into the eSignature workflow, and about commonly-used envelope functionality.
- [Searching for envelopes](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes/search.md): Learn how to apply search filters and retrieve specific sets of eSignature envelopes.
- [Envelope Locks](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes/lock.md): Describes the envelope locking feature, how to set a lock, and when you should lock an envelope.
- [Bulk sending envelopes](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes/bulk-send.md): Describes the bulk send feature with examples of how to send copies of a specific envelope to multiple bulk recipients.
- [Folders](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes/folders.md): Folders are containers of envelopes or templates that help you organize your workspace.
- [Envelope status codes](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes/status-codes.md): Learn about envelope statuses for the eSignature REST API.
- [Share access to your mailbox or individual envelopes](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes/share-access-to-mailbox-or-envelopes.md): Delegate signing, send on behalf of another user, or share envelope inbox access using the shared access feature.
- [Templates](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/templates.md): Learn about template objects, using them to quickly and easily create envelopes, and about other commonly-used template functionality
- [Creating and using templates](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/templates/creating.md): Learn how to create and use templates in the Docusign eSignature API.
- [Sharing templates](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/templates/sharing.md): Learn about how you can share templates between users and groups.
- [Composite templates](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/templates/composite.md): Learn how and when to use composite templates.
- [Elastic templates](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/templates/elastic-templates.md): Learn about elastic templates and how you can use them to simplify getting consent with your agreements.
- [Tabs](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs.md): Learn about tab objects, how they fit into the eSignature workflow, and about commonly-used tab functionality.
- [Auto-Place (Anchor Tagging) Tabs](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/auto-place.md): Describes how to attach tags to instances of a specific string within your document.
- [Fixed positioning](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/fixed.md): Describes how to place a tab at a specific x and y coordinate in your document.
- [PDF form field transformation](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/pdf-transform.md): Describes how to create tabs in your document directly from existing PDF forms
- [Data replication](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/data-replication.md): Describes how to simultaneously add data to all tabs that have the same label.
- [Number fields](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/number-fields.md): Learn about fields that enable recipients to enter numeric values in documents.
- [Calculated fields](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/calculated-fields.md): Describes how to use fields to calculate and display formulas in a document.
- [Conditional fields](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/conditional-fields.md): Describes how you can control when specific fields in your document are revealed to signers.
- [Custom tabs](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/custom-tabs.md): Describes how to customize and save your own versions of the Docusign tab types.
- [Requesting payment with tabs](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/payment.md): Describes how your can use tabs to request payment from recipients.
- [Prefilled tabs](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/tabs/prefilled-tabs.md): Prefilled tabs enable you to add tab data to your documents while sending your envelope.
- [Envelope and Template Documents](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/documents.md): Learn about document objects, how they fit into the eSignature workflow, and about commonly-used document functionality.
- [Document generation](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/documents/document-generation.md): Document generation enables you to create reusable templates with professionally formatted documents that include personalized data.
- [Purging documents](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/documents/purging.md): Describes how to configure your account to automatically purge documents when they are no longer needed.
- [Authoritative copies](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/documents/authoritative-copies.md): Describes how to designate a document as an authoritative copy.
- [Attachments](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/documents/attachments.md): Learn about the options and best practices for using attachments.
- [Supplemental Documents](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/documents/supplemental.md): Describes the concept of and options for including supplemental documents in an envelope.
- [Recipients](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/recipients.md): Learn about recipients, how they fit into the eSignature workflow, and about commonly-used recipient functionality.
- [Recipient authentication](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/recipients/auth.md): Learn about the methods that recipients can authenticate their identities during the signing ceremony, & how your app can implement these authentication methods.
- [Scheduled sending](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/recipients/scheduled-sending.md): The Advanced Recipient Routing (ARR) features let you control the flow of envelopes through the signature process by scheduling an envelope to be sent automatically at a specific time.
- [Delayed routing](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/recipients/delayed-routing.md): Docusign Advanced Recipient Routing (ARR) features let you control the flow of envelopes through the signature process by setting delays between steps in the routing order.
- [Pause and unpause a signature workflow](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/recipients/pause-unpause-workflow.md): The Advanced Recipient Routing (ARR) features let you control the flow of envelopes through the signature process by pausing and unpausing envelopes.
- [Specify conditional recipients](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/recipients/conditional-recipients.md): Docusign's Advanced Recipient Routing (ARR) features let you control the flow of envelopes by specifying different recipients to sign a document based on different conditions.
- [Recipient status codes](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/recipients/status-codes.md): Learn about eSignature REST API recipient statuses.
- [Embedding Docusign eSignature into your app](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/embedding.md): Learn about how to embed the envelope sending and document signing views directly into your app. Explore example requests and responses and see the requirements to enable this feature.
- [Embedded signing](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/embedding/embedded-signing.md): Embedded signing (also called the envelope recipient view) enables users to view and sign documents directly through your app or website by embedding a Docusign signing session into your application.
- [Docusign JS for embedded signing reference](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/embedding/docusign-js-embedded-reference.md): See details about Docusign JS methods used for embedded signing.
- [Embed the Sender and Correct views](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/embedding/embed-sender-correct-views.md): Embedded sending (also called the envelope sender view of an envelope) enables your app’s users to edit the tabs, documents, recipients, and other settings of draft Docusign envelopes within your app before sending them out for approval.
- [Branding](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/branding.md): Learn how to add your company's branding to your app's sending and signing experience.
- [Permissions](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/permissions.md): Learn how to use create permission profiles and use them to manage groups of users.
- [Standards-based signatures](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/standards-based-signatures.md): Discover the types of signatures available, how to add them to your envelope, and signature providers.
- [CFR Part 11 accounts](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/cfr-part-11-accounts.md): Docusign supports authentication and signing workflows that enable customers to meet the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 21 CFR Part 11 regulation.
- [Responsive signing](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/responsive.md): Describes the responsive signing feature and describes how it is used by Docusign integrations.
- [Setting tabs in HTML documents](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/responsive/setting-tabs.md): Describes the options and use cases for setting tabs in responsive HTML documents.
- [SMS and WhatsApp delivery](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/sms-delivery.md): Learn about the SMS and WhatsApp delivery features, which enables you to send signing requests and agreement notifications directly to a recipient’s mobile device.
- [Using SMS and WhatsApp delivery with the eSignature REST API](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/sms-delivery/using-sms-esignature.md): See context around using SMS and WhatsApp delivery with the eSignature REST API.
- [SMS and WhatsApp delivery notes and limitations](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/sms-delivery/sms-delivery-limitations.md): See details about limitations and usage notes for the SMS and WhatsApp delivery features.