Choose the field type that matches what recipients need to sign, enter, select, upload, or view on an agreement.
Adobe Acrobat Sign provides field types for signatures, recipient information, data collection, selections, file uploads, navigation, and transaction information. Use this reference to choose the appropriate field, then see Form field properties for the configuration options available to it.
Form field types
Choose the field type that matches what recipients need to sign, enter, select, upload, or view on an agreement.
Adobe Acrobat Sign provides field types for signatures, recipient information, data collection, selections, file uploads, navigation, and transaction information. Use this reference to choose the appropriate field, then see [Form field properties] for the configuration options available to it.
Choose a field by purpose
| If you need to... | Consider |
|---|---|
| Collect a signature or initials | Electronic signature, Digital signature, Signature block, Initials, Stamp |
| Display or collect recipient information | Recipient name, Recipient email, Company, Title, Date of signing |
| Collect entered data | Text, Number, Date |
| Let recipients choose from options | Checkbox, Radio button, Dropdown |
| Collect an image or supporting file | Image, Attachment |
| Provide a destination recipients can open | Link |
| Add transaction information automatically | Participation stamp, Transaction number |
Signature fields
| Field | Use it for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic signature | Collecting a standard electronic signature | The recipient applies their signature using the signing methods available for the agreement. |
| Digital signature | Collecting a certificate-based digital signature | Use when the recipient must sign using a digital certificate. See the Digital Signatures documentation for certificate and provider requirements. |
| Signature block | Providing a grouped signature area | Contains the signature and can include Title and Company when those elements are enabled by the applicable account configuration. |
| Initials | Collecting the recipient's initials | Use when a document requires initials separately from a full signature. |
| Stamp | Collecting an uploaded stamp image | The recipient uploads an image for the stamp. A Stamp can serve as the recipient's signature when that capability is enabled by an administrator. |
Use Form field properties to compare the properties available to each signature field.
Recipient information fields
These fields represent information associated with the recipient or signing event.
| Field | Use it for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient name | Displaying the recipient's name | The value is populated from the recipient's signing information rather than entered directly into the field. Use a Text field when you need the recipient to enter a different person's name. |
| Recipient email | Displaying the recipient's email address | Acrobat Sign supplies the email address associated with the recipient. Use a Text field with email validation when you need the recipient to provide another email address. |
| Company | Collecting the recipient's company | Use when the agreement requires company information associated with the recipient. |
| Title | Collecting the recipient's title | Use for a job title or similar role information associated with the recipient. |
| Date of signing | Recording when the recipient signs | Acrobat Sign supplies the value as part of the signing process. Use a Date field when the recipient needs to enter a date themselves. |
Date versus Date of signing
These fields serve different purposes:
- Date collects a date entered by the recipient.
- Date of signing is supplied by Acrobat Sign as part of the recipient's signing activity.
Choose Date for information such as an effective date, birth date, or requested completion date.
Choose Date of signing when the document needs to record the signing date.
Data entry fields
| Field | Use it for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Collecting general text or alphanumeric information | The most flexible input field. Text is the only field type that supports multiline entry. |
| Number | Collecting numeric information | Supports numeric-specific configuration, including validation and display formatting where applicable. |
| Date | Collecting a date from the recipient | Use validation when the date must follow a particular format. |
Text and Number fields can also enforce a maximum entry length. Depending on the field, additional properties can provide validation, masking, calculations, or other behavior.
See Form field properties for the complete property comparison.
Selection fields
Choose a selection field based on how many choices the recipient can make.
| Field | Use it for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Checkbox | Allowing an independent yes/no selection or selecting any applicable options | Individual checkboxes can also be combined into a checkbox group when selection requirements need to be enforced. |
| Radio button | Requiring one choice from a set of options | Selecting one option excludes the other options in the same radio-button set. |
| Dropdown | Selecting one value from a defined list | Useful when several choices need to occupy a compact area on the document. |
Use Create and configure checkbox groups when several Checkbox fields need shared selection requirements.
Image and attachment fields
Use these fields when the recipient needs to provide content rather than type a value.
Image
The Image field lets the recipient upload an image that appears within the field area on the document.
Use it when the image itself should be incorporated into the page, such as a photograph or other visual evidence.
Attachment
The Attachment field lets the recipient provide a supporting file.
Use it when you need to collect a separate document or file rather than display an uploaded image inside the form.
Link field
Use Link to give recipients a selectable destination from the agreement.
A Link can direct recipients to another location or resource. The field supports display text and a tooltip and doesn't require recipient assignment.
For configuration options, see Form field properties.
System-generated fields
These fields display agreement or participation information supplied by Acrobat Sign rather than information entered directly into the field.
Participation stamp
A Participation stamp records information about signing activity.
It can include:
- Recipient name
- Signing timestamp
- Email address
- Title, when provided
- Company, when provided
The recipient doesn't enter or modify the participation-stamp content.
Transaction number
A Transaction number displays the unique identifier associated with the agreement in Acrobat Sign.
Its value is generated by the system and isn't entered or modified by a recipient.
Fields and advanced behavior
Some authoring capabilities change how fields behave but aren't separate field types.
- Calculated fields use supported fields and formulas to derive values. See Create a calculated field.
- Checkbox groups combine Checkbox fields and apply shared selection requirements. See Create and configure checkbox groups.
- Conditional behavior can show, hide, enable, or disable supported fields based on other field values. See Set conditions on form fields.
- Identity-verified data uses ordinary fields configured to receive verified identity information. See Use identity-verified data in form fields.
Automatically detected fields can also be assigned a more appropriate field type based on document context when possible. Review detected fields before sending to make sure each one matches the information you intend to collect.
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