Q2356 - Understanding PDF: More Than Just a File Format

[NelsonP90]

The PDF format is often seen as a simple way to share documents, but its role in the digital world is much broader. PDF, which stands for Portable Document Format, was created to ensure that documents look the same on any device, regardless of operating system, software, or screen size. This consistency is one of the main reasons PDF has become a global standard for digital documents.

At its core, a PDF is designed to preserve layout, fonts, images, and formatting. Unlike editable text files, PDFs protect the original structure of a document, making them ideal for contracts, reports, manuals, and official forms. When a document must appear exactly as intended, PDF is usually the preferred choice.