PDFDokument

PDFDokument is a digital document in the Portable Document Format (PDF), developed to preserve fixed layout across different devices and software. A PDFDokument captures the visual appearance of a source document, including fonts, images, graphics, and interactive elements, in a single file regardless of the application used to create it. PDFDokuments are composed of pages, each with content streams that describe how to render text, vector graphics, and bitmap images, along with metadata, bookmarks, annotations, and optional security settings.

The format is standardized as ISO 32000 and has specialized variants such as PDF/A for long-term archiving, PDF/X for prepress and printing, PDF/E for engineering workflows, and PDF/UA for accessibility. PDF documents can contain text searchable via embedded or subset fonts, hyperlinks, form fields (AcroForms and, in some cases, XFA), annotations, and digital signatures for authenticity and integrity. Many PDFs may also include multimedia elements or 3D content.

Creation and editing: PDFDokuments are typically generated from other applications (word processors, desktop publishing, CAD tools) or dedicated PDF creators. Viewing is possible with a PDF reader; editing is supported by editors but may require source files or reflow of content. Security options include password protection, encryption, and permission settings, as well as redaction and digital signatures.

Accessibility: tagging and structure information improve use with assistive technologies, though quality varies. Usage: widely used for distribution, printing, and archival due to reliable layout preservation. Limitations include potential large file sizes and editing challenges without source files.