Portable Document Format
What is a .pdf file?
PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format developed by Adobe to present documents consistently across all devices and platforms, preserving fonts, images, and layout.
Technical Details
- Developer
- Adobe Systems
- First Released
- 1993
- MIME Type
- application/pdf
- Extension
What is PDF?
PDF was created to solve a fundamental problem: sharing documents that look the same regardless of the software, hardware, or operating system used to view them.
Today, PDF is an open standard (ISO 32000) and the universal format for official documents, contracts, manuals, and any content that needs to maintain its exact appearance.
Key Characteristics
- Platform-independent
- Preserves exact formatting
- Supports images, fonts, vectors
- Can include interactive forms
- Supports digital signatures
- Searchable text (when not scanned)
How to Open .pdf Files
PDFs can be opened with many free applications:
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (free)
- Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
- Preview (Mac)
- Foxit Reader (free)
- SumatraPDF (free, Windows)
Common Uses
- Official documents and contracts
- Ebooks and manuals
- Invoices and receipts
- Print-ready designs
- Government forms
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Consistent appearance everywhere
- Widely supported
- Can be secured and signed
- Compact file size
Cons
- Difficult to edit without special software
- Not ideal for responsive content
- Can be large with many images
- Accessibility can be limited
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