PDFformaatin

PDFformaatin, or Portable Document Format, is a file format developed by Adobe in the 1990s to present documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. It is widely used for exchanging documents, ensuring that the layout and content remain consistent regardless of the viewing device or software.

The core principle of PDF is to embed all necessary information within a single file. This includes text, fonts, images, vector graphics, and even interactive elements like hyperlinks and form fields. This self-contained nature makes PDFs ideal for printing, archiving, and sharing documents where fidelity is crucial.

PDF files can be created from a wide range of applications, including word processors, spreadsheet programs, and design software, typically through a "Save As PDF" or "Print to PDF" function. They can be viewed using free software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, as well as numerous other third-party viewers available for various platforms.

While originally proprietary, Adobe has since made the PDF specification an open standard, contributing to its widespread adoption and the development of a robust ecosystem of PDF creation and editing tools. This openness has solidified PDF's position as a de facto standard for document exchange in both personal and professional contexts.