Introducing Portable Document Format (PDF)

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Portable Document Format (PDF) is an open standard fixed-layout electronic file format used to represent documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems that preserves document formatting and enables file sharing.

Portable Document Format, PDF

What is Portable Document Format (PDF)?

The PDF format ensures that when the file is viewed online or printed, it retains exactly the format that you intended, and that data in the file cannot be easily changed because each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout flat document, including the text, fonts, graphics, and other information needed to display it.

The PDF format is also useful for documents that will be reproduced by using commercial printing methods. It is the international standard (ISO 32000-1) for more secure and reliable distribution and exchange of electronic documents and forms.

PDF files can contain clickable links and buttons, form fields, video, and audio — as well as logic to help automate routine business processes. PDF files are especially useful for documents such as magazine articles, product brochures, or flyers in which you want to preserve the original graphic appearance online.

A PDF file contains one or more page images, each of which you can zoom in on or out from. You can page forward and backward. The Businesses and government agencies around the world use PDF as a standard format for exchanging documents more securely. You can, too. Using security features, including password protection, you can help prevent people from accessing, copying, editing, or printing PDF documents. You can also permanently delete sensitive information from PDFs by redacting visible text and illustrations or removing hidden information.

Over time, the PDF specification has been expanded to work with assistive technologies, making PDF files more accessible to people with disabilities such as low vision or blindness. PDF files are optimized for the Web by rendering text before graphic images and hypertext links.

Download a free PDF file reader

Without a PDF file reader, you will not be able to view or print PDF files. Many web browsers do not already have a PDF file reader installed. To download Acrobat Reader Click Here.

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