For the OS it's either Mac Keychain Access, or the Windows Certificate Store. It can reside in a password protected file, it can be on a PIN protected smart card or token, it can be on a special server, or the operation system (OS) can manage it. The digital ID can be saved in one of several places. Because the digital ID contains the private key it has to be protected to prevent unauthorized use (aka "key compromise"). The digital ID contains three separate pieces of information a private key, a corresponding public key, and the public-key certificate information (the text that you see like the subject name, the issuer name, the validity dates, etc.). Of course we're concentrating on a PDF file here so we'll keep to Acrobat and Reader. a cast on broken arm, an art canvas, a wall, etc.) you can digitally sign any electronic blob of data (e.g. Also, just like in the physical world you can use a pen to sign anything (e.g. So, just like you use a pen to create a wet ink signature on a piece of paper, you use a digital ID to create a digital signature on an electronic document. A "digital signature" is the equivalent of a "wet ink" signature on a piece of paper. It's used to create a "digital signature" just like a pen is used to create a "wet ink" signature. Let's start with some background just so we're on the same page.Ī "digital ID" is the equivalent of a pen in the physical world. I'm a little confused as to your question.