--- title: "Signed document: how the PDF and the XML work and why two files?" description: "When a document is fully signed in Mifiel, two files are generated: a PDF and an XML. How do these files work? Why split it into two?" --- [Skip to content](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/signed-document-how-the-pdf-and-the-xml-work-and-why-two-files#main-content) - [English](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/signed-document-how-the-pdf-and-the-xml-work-and-why-two-files) - [Español](https://guia.mifiel.com/es/documento-firmado-cómo-funcionan-el-pdf-y-el-xml-y-por-qué-dos-archivos) English Show submenu for translations [![mifiel\_logo.png\]](https://guia.mifiel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/mifiel_logo.png?height=35&name=mifiel_logo.png)](https://www.mifiel.com/en/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - - [English](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/signed-document-how-the-pdf-and-the-xml-work-and-why-two-files) - [Español](https://guia.mifiel.com/es/documento-firmado-cómo-funcionan-el-pdf-y-el-xml-y-por-qué-dos-archivos) English Show submenu for translations Hi! How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Frequently Asked Questions](https://guia.mifiel.com/en?hsLang=en) 2. [Verifying a signed document and its signatures](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/verifying-a-signed-document-and-its-signatures?hsLang=en) # Signed document: how the PDF and the XML work and why two files? ## When a document is fully signed in Mifiel, two files are generated: a PDF and an XML. How do these files work? Why split it into two? Once all signers of a document in Mifiel have signed it, a record of data integrity is obtained for the data message. Two files are then generated: an XML and a PDF. Although some electronic signature platforms generate a single final signed file (generally a PDF), at Mifiel we chose to separate it into a PDF and an XML because there was already a precedent for using both: electronic invoices or CFDIs. Judges are very familiar with that system. In Mifiel, the XML and the PDF work as follows: ### XML It is a structured data set or container with full legal validity, which contains: - [Hash](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/what-is-a-hash?hsLang=en) of the original document. - Original document in a computational format called “Base64”. - Signature, signer and certificate data: - RFC. - Name or company name. - Email address. - Certificate number. - Certificate issuer. - Signature algorithm (encryption). - Signature date. - Electronic signature (uniquely encrypted hash for each private key). - Record of data integrity information: - Time stamp with date and time of issuance. - Issuer of the certificate. - Record of data integrity (hash of the signed document to which the date and time of issuance was concatenated and which was encrypted with the issuer's private key). The integrity of this file and the authenticity of its signatures can be verified in the [Mifiel Verifier](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/can-i-verify-that-the-electronic-signature-of-a-document-is-valid-and-detect-alterations-to-the-document-after-it-has-been-signed?hsLang=en), an auditable tool. ### PDF It is a visual representation of the XML that can be easily printed and interpreted. Although it has no legal validity, in case of trial it is essential as a support for the judge and the parties At the end it includes one or more [signature pages](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/signature-page?hsLang=en) with relevant information of the document, the signatures and the signers, and as its name says, the characters that make up each electronic signature stamped. - [Document signing](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-signing?hsLang=en#main-content) - [How to sign a document using the e.firma in Mifiel](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-signing?hsLang=en#how-to-sign-a-document-using-the-e-firma-in-mifiel) - [Features of the e.firma](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-signing?hsLang=en#features-of-the-e-firma) - [Common errors](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-signing?hsLang=en#common-errors) - [Document preparation](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-preparation?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Invite signers](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-preparation?hsLang=en#invite-signers) - [Customize the characteristics of a document](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-preparation?hsLang=en#customize-the-characteristics-of-a-document) - [Document management](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-management?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-management?hsLang=en#general) - [For document managers](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/document-management?hsLang=en#for-document-managers) - [Verifying a signed document and its signatures](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/verifying-a-signed-document-and-its-signatures?hsLang=en) - [Private signing process of encrypted documents](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/private-signing-process-of-encrypted-documents?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Creation of encrypted documents](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/private-signing-process-of-encrypted-documents?hsLang=en#creation-of-encrypted-documents) - [Signing of encrypted documents](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/private-signing-process-of-encrypted-documents?hsLang=en#signing-of-encrypted-documents) - [Set up of organizations and accounts](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/private-signing-process-of-encrypted-documents?hsLang=en#set-up-of-organizations-and-accounts) - [API integration](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/api-integration?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/api-integration?hsLang=en#general) - [Signing widget customizations](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/api-integration?hsLang=en#signing-widget-customizations) - [Additional features](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/api-integration?hsLang=en#additional-features) - [Plans and packets, billing and payment](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/plans-and-packets-billing-and-payment?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Features](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/plans-and-packets-billing-and-payment?hsLang=en#features) - [Pricing scheme](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/plans-and-packets-billing-and-payment?hsLang=en#pricing-scheme) - [Purchasing process](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/plans-and-packets-billing-and-payment?hsLang=en#purchasing-process) - [Billing process](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/plans-and-packets-billing-and-payment?hsLang=en#billing-process) - [Checking your consumption](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/plans-and-packets-billing-and-payment?hsLang=en#checking-your-consumption) - [Managing your e.firma and your Mifiel account](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/managing-your-e-firma-and-your-mifiel-account?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Your Mifiel account](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/managing-your-e-firma-and-your-mifiel-account?hsLang=en#your-mifiel-account) - [Features for signers](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/managing-your-e-firma-and-your-mifiel-account?hsLang=en#features-for-signers) - [Your e.firma (FIEL)](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/managing-your-e-firma-and-your-mifiel-account?hsLang=en#your-e-firma-fiel) - [Legal topics](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/legal-topics?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Electronic signature regulations](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/legal-topics?hsLang=en#electronic-signature-regulations) - [Organization Management](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/organization-management?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Generating an organization in Mifiel](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/organization-management?hsLang=en#generating-an-organization-in-mifiel) - [Adding members and editing their permissions](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/organization-management?hsLang=en#adding-members-and-editing-their-permissions) - [About Mifiel](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/about-mifiel?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General information](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/about-mifiel?hsLang=en#general-information) - [Signing from the app](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/signing-from-the-app?hsLang=en) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://guia.mifiel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-only-1.png?width=24&height=24&name=logo-only-1.png "Chill listening crop-3")](http://www.mifiel.com)