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PDF is an Acronym and FileExtension for Portable Document Format.


What is PDF

PDF is a format specified by Adobe which describes how to embed a multitude of resources in a single file, and also defines and describes formats for these resources, primarily PostScript with extension functions to enable the features PDF delivers beyond PostScript. Essentially, it is not a descendant of PostScript so much as an advanced container format for PostScript documents.

PostScript (and the Type1 font format, for that matter) are, of course, also Adobe brainchildren.


Why use PDF

PDF is the format of choice for distributing documents because:

  • They can't be trivially changed by the receiver. (MicrosoftWord documents can be.)
  • It is a true page description language. The same document will display identically on any viewer. (MicrosoftWord documents are notorious for displaying differently on different machines, depending on the version of MicrosoftWord in use, the fonts available to the machine, and the type of printer that computer is using as the default printer.)
  • The format is described by an unencumbered, published standard. (Microsoft have been known to change the undocumented Word document format to force users to upgrade.)
  • Because it is an open standard, viewers are available for many platforms and can be written or ported to those without one.


Viewers for PDF


Creating PDF documents

The obvious way is Adobe's commercial AdobeAcrobat, and if you're a professional and need all of the advanced features of PDF, that is your best bet. If you are less ambitious, there are many other, completely sufficient options available; see our CreatingPDFs page.