--- 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](https://guia.mifiel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/mifiel_logo.png?width=152&height=30&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 have signed a document on Mifiel, a certificate of data preservation is issued for the data message. Two files are then generated: an XML file and a PDF. Some e-signature platforms produce a single final signed file, usually a PDF. At Mifiel, we chose to split it into a PDF and an XML file because both formats were already used together in electronic invoices (CFDIs), a system judges are already familiar with. Here’s how the XML and PDF files work at Mifiel: XML The XML file is a structured set, or container, of data that is fully legally valid. It includes: - The[hash](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/what-is-a-hash?hsLang=en) of the original document. - The original document, encoded in a format called “Base64.” - Signature, signer, and certificate details: - Full name or legal business name. - Email address. - Date and time of signing. - Supported by**:** - For an advanced electronic signature: the Trust Service Provider (PSC) that issued it. - For an electronic signature with identity verification: facial biometrics with a liveness check, validated against a government-issued ID. - Type of signature: - For an advanced electronic signature: the signer’s RFC (Mexican tax ID). - For an electronic signature with identity verification: a selfie and photos of the signer’s government-issued ID, as evidence that the signature can be attributed to them. - Certificate number. - Certificate issuer. - Signature algorithm (encryption). - Electronic signature (a hash encrypted uniquely with each private key). - Certificate of data preservation details: - Timestamp showing the date and time of issuance. - Certificate issuer. - Record of data integrity (the hash of the signed document, combined with the date and time of issuance and encrypted with the issuer’s private key). You can verify the integrity of this file and the authenticity of its signatures with 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) - [Common questions when transitioning to electronic signature](https://guia.mifiel.com/en/legal-topics?hsLang=en#common-questions-when-transitioning-to-electronic-signature) - [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) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "TechArticle", "author" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Mifiel", "url" : "https://www.mifiel.com/" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-30T17:48:00-06:00", "datePublished" : "2021-03-08T15:34:00-06:00", "description" : "Once a document is signed in Mifiel, two files are generated: a PDF for visual representation and an XML file containing the legally valid electronic signature. 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