What is a PDF document

2023-11-06

PDF Introduction

PDF is a portable document file format used for reliable presentation and exchange of documents, regardless of software, hardware, or operating system. That is to say, PDF files are universal in both Windows and Apple's Mac operating systems.

The Meaning of PDF

PDF is a file format developed by Adobe Systems for file exchange unrelated to applications, operating systems, and hardware.PDF files are based on the PostScript language image model, ensuring accurate color and printing effects on any printer. That is, PDF faithfully reproduces every character, color, and image of the original manuscript.

development history

The PDF file format was developed in the early 1990s as a sharing method that includes file formats, built-in images, and can operate across platforms. Even on completely different computer platforms, recipients may not have relevant or shared application software interfaces to use. In the early years before the rise of the World Wide Web and HTML text, PDF was very popular in desktop publishing workflow technology.

Initially, PDF was only seen as a page preview format, not a production format. However, the market's perception is not the same, as market expectations shift the focus of this format and thus change the product. Various e-book readers are flooding the domestic and international markets, replacing paper media in many fields.

Main impacts

PDF files use industry standard compression algorithms, which are usually smaller than PostScript files and easier to transmit and store. They are still page independent, and a PDF file contains one or more "pages" that can be processed separately, making it particularly suitable for working in multiprocessor systems. It is precisely because of the various advantages of PDF files that they have gradually become a new favorite in the publishing industry, providing more convenience for people.