PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format created by Adobe in 1993 to enable the sharing of documents across different systems without needing the original software or formatting changes. A PDF file keeps the original layout, images, fonts, and colors intact, making it ideal for documents that need to look the same on all devices.
Interesting Facts about PDFs:
- Universal Format: PDFs are one of the few formats that look identical on any operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux) or device (PCs, smartphones, tablets).
- Archival Standard: PDF/A, a version of PDF, is specifically designed for long-term document preservation, following strict guidelines to ensure files are accessible in the future.
- Security Features: PDFs can be encrypted, password-protected, and set with specific permissions, such as preventing others from editing or printing.
- Interactive Elements: A PDF can contain not only text and images but also hyperlinks, videos, forms, and buttons, making it more dynamic than most document formats.
- NASA Uses PDFs in Space: Since PDFs don’t depend on any particular system to render correctly, they’re used in space for astronaut manuals and data sheets.
There are numerous operations you can perform on PDF files, ranging from basic viewing to advanced editing and manipulation. Here’s an overview of some common and advanced operations: