# Technical references

> Technical references for the DocuSign connector activities.

## DocuSign basic concepts

This page describes the basic concepts you need to know before using DocuSign.

### Document

* Actual files that require signatures. You must add tags to a document, so your signer knows where to input information.

### Envelope

* Envelopes are the packages that documents are sent in. To set up your recipients, delivery settings, as well as messages, you must edit an envelope.
* Envelopes are containers that can be sent to multiple recipients for viewing or signing.
* Envelopes have unique identifiers associated with them, and each document within an envelope also carries its own unique identifiers.
* Start your envelope first. You need an envelope with at least one Signer or Acknowledge receipt recipient to add tags to your document.

### Templates

* They are types of envelopes that can be applied each time you send an envelope, so you won't have to add documents, setup the routing order, place and/or assign the tags. This saves time since templates can be sent repeatedly.
* You can visit [this page](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/esign101/concepts/envelopes/) for more information on these concepts.

### Signature requesting

* You can create the envelope html definition programmatically in case you want to use custom envelopes.
* Otherwise, you can create and send an envelope quickly by using the **Create Envelope using Template** or **Create by Copying Envelope** activities. For more information on the details of the API used by these activities, please visit [this page](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/reference/envelopes/envelopes/create/).
* Use the **Add Document to Envelope** activity to add a document to an envelope. For more information on the details of the API used by these activities, please visit [this page](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/reference/envelopes/envelopedocuments/update/).
* Use the **Add Recipient to Envelope** activity to add the recipients. For more information on the details of the API used by these activities, please visit [this page](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/reference/envelopes/enveloperecipients/create/).
* For more information on the guide or to request a signature, please visit [this page](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/how-to/request-signature-email-remote/).

### Checking whether the document or envelope is signed

* Once you have requested the signature by following the steps above, the recipient receives the email and must sign the document.
* You can check the status of the envelope by using the **Get Form Data** activity. For more details on the API used for this activity, please visit [this page](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/reference/envelopes/envelopeformdata/get/).
* The response of the above API has a **status** field, which contains the information/status of signers, to whom the document/envelope was sent (as shown in the sample API response presented below).

  ![docs image](https://dev-assets.cms.uipath.com/assets/images/activities/latest-docs-image-48899-38061bc5-0bef1af9.webp)
* If this **status** field has the value `signed` or `completed` then that recipient has already signed the document or all the pending actions have been completed. That’s how we understand whether a person has signed or not.

### Process of downloading signed documents

* Once the recipient has signed the document and the envelope **status** field has the value `signed` or `completed`, the documents can be downloaded either as a `.zip` file or combined PDF file or portfolio.
* You can download the documents of the envelope by using the **Download Documents of Envelope** activity. For more details on the API used for this activity, please visit [this page](https://developers.docusign.com/docs/esign-rest-api/reference/envelopes/envelopedocuments/get/). The certificate of completion can also be downloaded based on the value provided for the input parameter **certificate**.