> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://signatureapi-daf4ee54.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Use Placeholders to Position Signatures

> Position signature fields dynamically using text placeholders embedded in your documents

In SignatureAPI, [places](/docs/api/resources/places/object) are areas in a document where recipients sign, enter information, or where details, such as dates, are automatically added. The [signature place](/docs/api/resources/places/signature) is one of such places.

There are two ways to position places: [fixed positions](/docs/api/resources/places/signature#fixed-positions) (coordinates) and [placeholders](/docs/api/resources/places/signature#placeholders) within the document. In this example, we will show how to position a **signature place** using a **placeholder**.

For this example, we will create an envelope with:

* One recipient (of type `signer`), identified with the key `visitor`.
* The visitor signs a single PDF document.
* The document will have one signature place, identified with the key `signer_signs_here`, that will be signed by the recipient `visitor`.

All other envelope settings use the default configuration:

* The recipient will receive an email with a link to sign.
* The account's default language, timezone, and timestamp format used.

## Prepare your Document

Placeholders are text within your PDF document that define the location where places (such as signatures, initials, text inputs, etc.) should appear. They follow the format `[[place_key]]`, where `place_key` identifies the place within the document.

<Note>
  Place placeholders use double brackets: `[[place_key]]`. Template fields use double curly braces (`{{field_key}}`) to inject content into DOCX documents. A DOCX document can use both. See [Document Templates](/docs/api/resources/documents/templates) for template fields.
</Note>

For this example, we prepared a document that contains the placeholder `[[signer_signs_here]]` to indicate the position of the place with the key `signer_signs_here`.

<Card title="Example document" icon="file" horizontal="true" href="https://pub-9cb75390636c4a8a83a6f76da33d7f45.r2.dev/privacy-placeholder.pdf">
  Download the PDF used in this example.
</Card>

<Tip>In our document, the placeholder is highlighted in blue for visibility. However, we recommend setting it to white so it remains invisible to the signer.</Tip>

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/signatureapi-daf4ee54/to2kcqhpCDnABjF5/docs/api/guides/how-to/images/use-placeholders-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=to2kcqhpCDnABjF5&q=85&s=c7c01c99fe1c11eb70a6231e6aa837f5" alt="" width="1494" height="536" data-path="docs/api/guides/how-to/images/use-placeholders-1.png" />

## Create the Envelope

When creating the envelope, add the signature place object to the `places` array inside the document object, with the following properties:

* `key`: This identifies the place within the document. Must match what’s inside the square brackets in the placeholder inside the document file, in this case: `signer_signs_here`.
* `type`: As this is a signature place, we use the value `signature`.
* `recipient_key`: The key of the recipient that will sign in this place. In this example, there is just one recipient, who has the key `visitor`.

```json theme={null}
// POST https://api.signatureapi.com/v1/envelopes
// X-Api-Key: <Your API Key>

{
  "title": "Dummy Consent",
  "message": "Please review and sign the Dummy Privacy Policy for internal testing purposes. This document is not legally binding and is used solely for demonstration\n\nThank you for your cooperation.",
  "documents": [
    {
      "url": "https://pub-9cb75390636c4a8a83a6f76da33d7f45.r2.dev/privacy-placeholder.pdf",
      "places": [
        {
          "key": "signer_signs_here",
          "type": "signature",
          "recipient_key": "visitor"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "recipients": [
    {
      "type": "signer",
      "key": "visitor",
      "name": "John Doe",
      "email": "john@example.com"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Result

If the request is successful, SignatureAPI will send John Doe (the recipient) an email with a link to sign. John will click the link and will be able to place his signature on top of the signature line.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/signatureapi-daf4ee54/to2kcqhpCDnABjF5/docs/api/guides/how-to/images/use-placeholders-2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=to2kcqhpCDnABjF5&q=85&s=d2e1ea4725c5cbdac4c3b3363410a98a" alt="" width="345" height="190" data-path="docs/api/guides/how-to/images/use-placeholders-2.png" />

## Try It

[Try this example in Postman](/docs/api/postman) using your [test API key](/docs/api/test-mode) to create a free, non-binding test envelope. Test envelopes won't send emails, but you can review them in your dashboard.

## Keep Learning

* Learn how to position a signature using [coordinates](/docs/api/guides/how-to/use-fixed-positions) when exact positioning is required.
* Explore other [types of places](/docs/api/resources/places/object), such as [initials](/docs/api/resources/places/initials), [text inputs](/docs/api/resources/places/text-input), or [completion dates](/docs/api/resources/places/date).