The W3C recommendation allows any digital data to be signed, and this includes an XML document, an XML element of a document, and the content of an XML element as particular cases.
When we talk about an XML signature, we are actually referring to an XML document, which contains the Signature (defined in the namespace http://www.w3.org/2000/09/XMLdsig#) as one element (which may be the root element). But the document may also contain other elements, among which the most important are, of course, the original data objects being signed.
Depending on
This document specifies XML syntax and processing rules for creating and representing digital signatures. XML Signatures can be appliedto any digital content (data object), including XML. An XML Signature may be applied to the content of one or more resources.Enveloped or enveloping signatures are over data within the same XML document as the signature; detached signatures are over data external to the signature element. More specifically, this specification defines an XML signature element type and an XML signature application; conformance requirements
W3C Recommendation 12 February 2002:
Abstract
This document specifies XML digital signature processing rules and syntax. XML Signatures provide integrity, message authentication, andor signer authentication services for data of any type, whether located within the XML that includes the signature or elsewhere.
Status of this document
This document has been reviewed by W3C Members and other interested parties and has been endorsed by the Director as a W3C Recommendation. It is a stable document and may be used as reference material or cited as a
RSS/XML