PDF

Updated: 11/13/2018 by Computer Hope
Adobe Acrobat PDF icon

Short for Portable Document Format, PDF is a file format and file extension developed by Adobe that enables users to capture the native appearance of a document. It is useful because it allows the document to be viewed and printed the same way on any device. PDF (Portable Document Format) files are frequently used in legal documents, such as tax papers, bank statements, and other forms that need the user to fill in data. Clicking the Adobe PDF file icon to the right opens an example of a PDF file if Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF reader is installed on your computer.

Tip

You can quickly create a PDF file from a document or web page by choosing "print to PDF" on your print options screen.

Are PDF files vector or raster files?

A PDF is often a vector file, which allows the file to be resized and printed without any distortion. However, a PDF can also be created as a raster file if it was for example created using a scanner. So, a PDF file could be either a vector or raster file.

How do I get Adobe Acrobat Reader for free?

To install or update Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, visit the Adobe Acrobat Reader download site.

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