Portable Document Format (PDF) is a multi-platform/application file format that captures a document's electronic image and formatting elements, including all fonts, text and graphics. It is a reliable and trusted file format used in the exchange of electronic data.
Because PDF provides color-accurate information, it allows a user to share and print data as it appears on the computer screen or monitor.
Developed by Adobe Systems, PDF is ensured by the ISO 32000 open standard.
A PDF may be created with Adobe Acrobat or similar software. To view or print PDF files, Acrobat Reader or another compatible program must be downloaded. With Adobe Acrobat plug-ins, PDF files can be viewed in Web browsers.
The following are PDF features:
- As a highly compressed file format, it facilitates efficient downloads of complex data.
- One may zoom in and out of the document.
- Any font and/or image types may be included.
- It provides easily searchable information or metadata, including scanned text converted with optical character recognition (OCR) technology.
- Using extended assistive technologies, PDFs are accessible to people with disabilities like vision impairment.
- It is capable of including interactive elements like buttons and clickable links.
