This part is an informative introduction into the following parts. It gives guidance to the following parts in order to allow an efficient usage of the provided information. Therefore Part 1 provides history, application context, market perspective and a tutorial about the basic understanding of electronic signatures. - Clause 3 provides \'Terms and definitions\' covering all parts of this standards. The specific parts will contain a similar section which refers to the clause of this Part 1. - Clause 4 provides \'Symbols and abbreviations\' covering all parts of this standards. The specific parts will contain a similar section which refers to the clause of this Part 1. - Clause 5 provides a Management Summary that describes the market context in which electronic signatures are typically - Annex A provides the algorithm identifies for all parts of the standard. - Annex B provides the algorithm identifies for all parts of the standard. - Annex C provides the build scheme for object identifiers for all parts of the standard. - Annex D \'Tutorial on Signature Technology\' provides a tutorial which helps the first reader to get familiar with signature technology and its relation to the society that it serves. - Annex E \'Guide to the EN 419212\' explains the historical and technical evolution of the ESIGN activities which did finally lead to this version of the signature standard.