What is a .PDF file?
A PDF file, which stands for Portable Document Format File, is a type of document that can be opened and viewed on many different types of devices and operating systems. This makes it a very versatile file format for sharing documents that need to maintain their formatting and appearance, such as forms, flyers, and other publications.
The PDF format was created by Adobe Systems, and it can be made using Adobe Acrobat or other software that can save documents as PDFs. Often, PDF files are generated from existing documents, like Word files or scanned images, but they can also be created from scratch using various PDF creation tools.
To view a PDF file, you need a PDF reader. Some of the most common programs that can open PDF files include: - Adobe Acrobat DC and Adobe Acrobat Reader DC - Web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge - PDF viewers like KDE Okular and Evince - Office suites like Microsoft Word 365 and LibreOffice - Other specialized PDF tools like Foxit Reader, Nitro Pro, and Corel WordPerfect 2021 PDF files can also be edited with certain software, such as PDFedit, LibreOffice, and Wondershare PDFelement. For converting PDFs to other formats, tools like Adobe Convert PDF to Word or Icecream PDF Converter can be used.
On mobile devices, PDF files can be opened using apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Books on iOS, and Google Play Books on Android. Many mobile office apps, such as Microsoft Office and MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro, also support PDF files.
In addition to dedicated apps, PDF files can often be viewed and managed directly within operating systems. For example, macOS includes Preview, which can open PDFs, and both Windows and macOS allow you to print documents as PDFs using the print dialog in any application.
Overall, the PDF format is widely used because it preserves the original formatting of documents and is supported by a wide range of applications and devices. Whether you are downloading a PDF from the internet, receiving one via email, or creating one from a document, there are many tools available to help you view and manage PDF files.
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Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .PDF file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.